Down Syndrome Children and Autism

Christian Early is the 2025 recipient of a grant from the Broward Cultural Division.  You are presently viewing the project “Down Children and Autism: Connecting Beyond the Artwork.” This is the second grant in a series of Autism projects.The Project “Down Children and Autism: Connecting Beyond the Artwork” is made possible by a grant from the Broward Cultural Division that displays the connection between Down Children and an adult with Autism. Four children participated in this project: David, Cassandra, Alex, and Preston; Christian reflected his thoughts on each child, interacted with each on several occasions, and sketched each one. Later, back in his studio, he painted each child in various formats.  Painted pots with his art are part of this exhibition as well as t-shirts with the four children and Christian’s last book.

Adults with Autism connect in an awkward way with people, but for Christian Early, children bring out a hidden love that is hard to explain and can only be understood when you see him embracing and joyfully helping children- especially those most fragile in our society as is with Children with Down Syndrome.