Seth Chast, who was diagnosed with autism as a very young child, lived for years
in an internal world of roller coasters, haunted houses, and classical music.  At age
20, Seth's mother was advised that Seth's best chance at meaningful work would
be mopping and cleaning floors.  Not willing to accept that assessment of her
son's future, Debra Chwast looked for alternatives.  A dramatic change occurred
when Seth took an oil painting class at the Cleveland Museum of Art.  Seth, who
rarely speaks, began describing his world in paint.  It turned out that he had an
innate ability to mix colors and create amazing, large scale oil paintings.  Self-study
portraits are now one of his recurring subjects, along with spectacular landscapes
of aurora skies, mysterious forests, and horses.  His work has been appreciated
by collectors and recognized by art experts.  Perhaps more importantly, painting
has opened up a world of communication for Seth, and meaningful work as a
committed artist.  As part of Seth's exhibit and discussion at the 2006 Cleveland
Ingenuity Festival, Tom Collura, of BrainMaster Technologies, Inc. collaborated
to record Seth's brainwaves while painting, using wireless EEG technology.
During the recording session, Seth observed his own EEG for almost 2 hours,
and became absorbed in his own brain activity.  As this stimulated his creativity,
he recited the phrase "grow your brain" as he worked on a new self-portrait.

Ingenuity attendees were able to see Seth's brainwaves in real-time, and learn
about Seth's astonishing ability to enter the creative zone.  The discussion
group included Dr. Collura and artists, producers, educators, and clinicians
discussing the importance of understanding autism, and fostering creativity
and acceptance of what we may think of as "outsiders."

www.brainmaster.com/news/chwast1.jpg
www.brainmaster.com/news/chwast2.jpg


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