(Lander, WY) – Nick Thornburg, a multi-disciplinary artist based in Lander, has announced the release of his prize-winning art book, “Forbidden Resonance.” The book was supported in part by the inaugural XENO Prize from Brooklyn-based avant-garde art institution Franklin Furnace Archive. It delves into the intricate interplay of societal issues, advocacy overreach, and suppression, offering a unique perspective on the autistic experience through its intersection with broader contemporary issues.
Through this art book, Thornburg aims to challenge the mainstream autism advocacy discourse, which he suggests may overshadow the urgent needs of those on the spectrum who cannot self-advocate like himself.
“I’ve embraced a new artistic approach with this work, blending traditional and digital techniques to create collages that reflect the complexities and nuances of the themes I explore,” Thornburg said. “By incorporating text into the art, I’m inviting readers to question the authority behind the words they encounter, empowering them to challenge the status quo and advocate for autonomy and agency for those who genuinely need it.”
Thornburg, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder himself, has experienced firsthand the challenges and immense cost that neurodivergent individuals face in a society that often marginalizes them.
“Among other things, I’ve been singled out for being a little different, for not conforming to narrow expectations of how I should think or communicate,” Thornburg said. “That kind of bad faith misconstrual is probably the reason why between 75 and 85 percent of college-educated autistic people are underemployed or unemployed. So, I’m acutely aware of the immense cost that neurodivergent individuals pay simply for being who they are.”
The XENO Prize, awarded by the Franklin Furnace Archive, is dedicated to bringing attention and support to art that might otherwise be overlooked due to controversial content, cultural bias, or institutional neglect. Thornburg’s “Forbidden Resonance” was selected from a pool of 68 applications by juror Coreen Simpson for its powerful message and potential to address the influx of censorship nationwide.
“In this book, I use the suppression of autistic voices as a powerful analog to the broader issue of censorship in our society,” Thornburg said. “By delving into the unique challenges autistic people face, I aim to shed light on the pervasive nature of thought-policing and its impact on us all. This book is meant as a catalyst for introspection, challenging readers to confront the shadows of suppression.”
“Forbidden Resonance” is now part of the Franklin Furnace’s Artists’ Book Collection, the Pratt Institute Libraries, the permanent collections of the US Library of Congress, the John Hay Library Literary & Popular Culture Collection at Brown University, The Whitney Museum of American Art Library, as well as the Northern New England Museum of Contemporary Art collections. It will soon join the Crossett Library collection at Bennington College.
“As an autistic person from a rural locale, gaining entry into exclusive contemporary art spaces seemed like an impossible dream,” Thornburg said. “Receiving the XENO prize gave me hope that elitist barriers could, in fact, be brought down. This feels like just the beginning of an amazing journey.”
To learn more about Nick Thornburg and “Forbidden Resonance,” please visit www.nickthornburg.com.
Nick Thornburg is a multidisciplinary artist and writer based in Lander, Wyoming. He graduated from The University of Iowa with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Cinema & Comparative Literature and Theatre Arts. His work has been featured on the independent screen and stage, overseas at the Prague International Theater Design Quadrennial Exhibition, and at various institutions and exhibition spaces in the United States, including the Yellowstone Art Museum, the State Historical Museum of Iowa, the Wyoming State Capitol, and the White House Visitor Center. He is the 2023 winner of the XENO Prize for Artists’ Books, the 2018 winner of the Spirit of Wyoming art competition in Jackson, and a three-time recipient of Best in Show during The Nicolaysen Art Museum‘s annual art gala.
He is currently employed at Wyoming PBS, the sole public television station serving Wyoming, licensed to Central Wyoming College.