Gifted eco-artist, 17, wins congressional art competition
Puzzles, magazines, calendars, food wrappers and movie posters are just some of the items 17-year-old Eco-Artist Grant Manier uses to produce brilliant pieces of art.
Each collage contains thousands of cut or torn pieces of recycled paper.
Living with autism, Manier developed an obsessive repetitive behavior for tearing paper at a very young age. By his early teens, he started collecting and recycling paper as an affordable way to continuing his passion creating works of art.
“I consider my autism a gift. Having autism is not a bad thing,” he said. “My disability has become my ability to contribute to changing the earth’s environment.”
A student at Focus Academy in The Woodlands, Manier’s “Texas, Our Texas” was selected as the winner of the Congressional Art Competition for the 8th District of Texas by U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands. Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual arts competition to recognize artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district.
As one of the winners, Manier’s Texas collage will be displayed in Washington, D.C., inside the Capitol Building for one year.
“When you walk down the hall where they display these congressional art contest winners at the Capitol, you can’t help but be amazed by the talent of America’s young artists,” Brady said.
“But Grant’s artwork is something even more special because his talent far outweighs his challenges, and the proof will be hanging in the Capitol.”
“Reduce, reuse and recycle is the foundation for Grant’s art,” said Julie Coy Manier, his mother and marketer.
Julie Manier looked beyond her son’s obsessive compulsive behavior a few years ago and decided to not be annoyed, but inspired. Ever since, she has been taking her son to interviews, art shows, fundraisers and galas where he has helped raise $30,000 with his eco-friendly art pieces. Their next goal is to be on the Ellen DeGeneres show.
“Grant is working on a piece now of the fish Dory,” his mother said. The movie, “Finding Dory,” a sequel to “Finding Nemo,” is due for release in 2015. DeGeneres is the voice of the animated character.
“We want to be invited to be on her show,” she said.
Manier has worked with former Houston Oilers quaterback Dan Pastorini and Houston Texans linebacker Connor Barwin by providing Grant’s eco-art masterpieces to help raise money for their events.
“Dan Pastorini told me what an oil derrick was, since he used to be a Houston Oiler,” Manier said when explaining the concept of his Texas art piece.
The mother and son team volunteer to speak about living with autism and guide others to find their “genius” that is within. Recently, he spoke at a local independent living facility for senior citizens.
“The seniors (at The Forum at Memorial Woods) were ecstatic and loved having Grant to look up to,” Manier said. “Grant leads the future of special needs into independence and the arts.”
Manier said her son couldn’t do what he’s doing without Focus Academy.
“It is primarily online learning with a social outlet for Grant,” she said. “He attends three times a week, and I take him to interviews on the other days.”
Focus Academy, located at 2408 Timberloch Place in The Woodlands, accommodates individuals with a diagnosis such as ADHD, Aspergers, Tourette’s and similar challenges. They have three locations in the Houston area: Katy, Stafford and The Woodlands.
“He uses paper to help soothe his anxieties and fears; he uses his artwork to connect to those who do not understand his world,” Manier said.