Ethan Engel's work displayed in Smithsonian

Post Reply New Topic

Transcendence" is the work of 27-year-old Ethan Engle.

Ethan Engel, the emerging artist at the Dahl Arts Center, says "this collection called Transcendence, each artwork has it's own story to tell about my life with autism.

This journey recorded by the Black Hills State University graduate and has been circulating for nearly four years now.

In his process, he uses a wood burner tool to scorch through the backside of his canvas.

As he demonstrates, he says "As I scorch, I have all of these threads released out to create this like unique carmelized texture with my words that I'm telling the story about."

In 2014, Engle was chosen by the VSA Emerging Young Artist program in Washington D.C. to have his work published.
One of the pieces getting the opportunity to hang in the Smithsonian.

He says, "The reason why it's in reverse is because part of me with auditory processing disorder, I want my audience to get a chance to read these words so they can definitely be in my shoes and understand how I live through this every day."

Now on display at the Dahl, many of these stories include images from Engle's past, internal conflicts and struggles that stem from his experience with Asperger's. He says he used his work to get through it all and encourages all others to do the same.