Donna Williams’ Blog

Ever the arty Autie

Art Works by Donna Williams on Ebay

March11

A selection of my signed Limited Edition art prints are up for sale for a limited time on Ebay.

My original art works have been exhibited and sold nationally and internationally and usually sell for $100-$1,500.  The Limited Edition prints are from collections of only 50 meaning that after 50 art prints are made of each of the original works these are derived from no more art prints will be made so there will only ever be 50 of these in the world.

If you’ve wanted one of my original artworks, or want to buy one as a fundraiser for a charity auction, now’s a good time to grab one in this sale.  It lasts 6 days so be quick.  You can find the ebay link here

Happy bidding.

Warmly,

Donna Williams *)
author, artist, singer-songwriter, screenwriter.

http://www.donnawilliams.net
http://www.myspace.com/nobodynowherethefilm

http://www.aspinauts.com

Artist Résumé

Donna Williams

Exhibitions

(* denotes solo exhibit)

Paintings

  • 2004: Postcard Exhibition, Linden Gallery, Melbourne
  • 2005: * Original works and prints, Art@8 Gallery, Melbourne (solo)
  • 2005: Frankston Festival Art Exhibition, Melbourne
  • 2006: * Autism and Sensing, Vanguard Gallery, Melbourne (solo)
  • 2007: * Alternative Normalities, Gallery 15, Melbourne (solo)
  • 2007: Spectrum art auction, Cornwall, UK
  • 2007: Prism Gallery, Huntington, Virginia, USA
  • 2008: * Alternative Normalities, Grenfell Gallery, Adelaide, Australia (solo)
  • 2008: World Autism Awareness Art Exhibition, United Nations Building, New York, NY, USA
  • 2008: The Savant Exhibition, Manhattan Children’s Centre, New York, NY
  • 2008: * Beyond Words, Gallery 15, Melbourne, Australia (solo)
  • 2008: Footsteps Gallery, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  • 2009: * A Place of Belonging, Grenfell Gallery, Adelaide, Australia (solo)
  • 2009: Jarmbi Gallery, Burrinja Cultural Centre, Melbourne, Australia
  • 2009: UN Plaza, New York, NY, USA

Sculpture

  • 1997: Sculpture Exhibition, Malvern Hills College, Great Malvern, UK
  • 1998: * Victorian Water Cure Exhibition, Malvern Museum, Great Malvern, UK (Commissioned museum exhibit for public display)
  • 2006: * Autism and Sensing; the Unlost Instinct, Vanguard Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
  • 2009: Jarmbi Gallery, Burrinja Cultural Centre, Melbourne, Australia

Related Arts Experience

Published Books

Music Albums

  • 1999: Nobody Nowhere (named after the book)
  • 2005: Mutation
  • 2010: Broken Biscuit

In 2000 two songs from the Nobody Nowhere album were featured in a Japanese TV series, Things You Taught Me (TBS) that has been released internationally and released on the soundtrack for the film.

In 2007 and 2008 two tracks from the Nobody Nowhere album made the top 50 on Artist Underground and the track Beautiful Behavioural Mutations had 15,000 hits in a year on You Tube.

In 2008 Donna formed an inter-arts rock band, Donna and The Aspinauts which began performing in 2009.

They produced their debut album, Broken Biscuit, in 2010, produced by Paul Spears at PV Sounds Studio.

Film

  • 2005: Wrote the screenplay to Nobody Nowhere (now under option to Hollywood producer Beverly Nero).
  • 2005-2006: Wrote 5 other feature films, now represented by a Hollywood film agent, Liz Hanley of Bicoastal Talent, Burbank, CA.
  • 2007: Awarded a commendation for the feature film screenplay The Tower.

Bibliography

Television

I featured in four television documentaries:

  • 1993: Autism, Emotion and Behavior, Eye to Eye with Connie Chung, USA
  • 1995: Jam Jar, Fresh Film, in association with Channel 4, UK
  • 1995: Krankheit Als Schicksal, Spiegel TV, Germany
  • 1995: Yokoso Watashi No Sekai E “Jiheisho” Donna Williams, NHK, Japan

and five other television appearances:

  • 1992: Person Of The Week on Peter Jennings, ABC News, USA
  • 1998: Midlands Today Evening News, UK : appeared with my life sized sculpture, My World, The World
  • 1994: Norwegian Evening News, Norway.
  • 1999: BBC, UK.
  • 2006: Insight, SBS, Australia.
  • 2007: Win News, Channel 9, Australia.
  • 2008: Visions, Channel 31, Melbourne, Australia

Magazines & Newspapers (1990-2006)

  • New York Times (US)
  • Los Angeles Times (US)
  • Boston Globe (US)
  • Washington Post (US)
  • Toronto Star (Canada)
  • National Post (Canada)
  • Maclean’s Magazine (Canada)
  • Mirabella (US)
  • Life Magazine (UK)
  • Hello (UK)
  • Women’s Day (UK)
  • The Guardian (UK)
  • The Mail (UK)
  • The Express (UK)
  • The Independent (UK)
  • The Age (Australia)
  • Leader (Australia)
  • MX (Australia)
  • Other publications in Norway, Germany, Israel, France, Japan, Italy.

Radio (1990-2006)

  • Women’s Hour, Jenny Murray, BBC, UK
  • Morningside Program, Peter Gzowski, CBC, Canada
  • National Public Radio, New York, USA
  • Autism One Radio, USA
  • ABC, Sydney, Australia
  • 3CR, Melbourne, Australia
  • MDR, Melbourne, Australia
  • Also featured on German radio.

Melbourne Buddhist Centre in Tecoma

March10

Today I went to the Rime Institute in Tecoma.  It’s a marvelous house in suburbia transformed into a Buddhist centre practicing Tibetan Buddhism.  If you’ve ever wanted to try out various forms of meditation or learn more about Buddhist spirituality of philosophy this is such a gentle, low key place with a lovely vibe.

Wondering how to stop thinking, doing, judging and learn how to be, or how to strengthen the ability to be to the point it doesn’t cause boredom, agitation or withdrawal symptoms from Facebook or Nintendo?  Then I recommend this place.

It’s donation basis is highly affordable.  You can attend sessions on an ad-hoc basis and see if its for you.  The Buddhists at the centre are real people, earthy, warm, approachable with none of that floating on clouds false ‘new agey’ thing.  Tibetan Buddhism is steeped in rich history thousands of years old.  This is real, tangible spirituality at your own pace (note, I said spirituality, not religion) and, no, you don’t have to be a vegetarian nor religious to try it out.  Even if you just go along for a new cultural experience, it’s a great atmosphere and as close as you’ll get to the feel of a Buddhist temple in the foothills of Dandenong Ranges (it’s also walking distance from Tecoma station if you want to leave the car at home).

When I was a homeless girl

March6

When I was a homeless girl

I had yellow teeth with holes,

Big enough to fall through.

Twenty six years of antibiotics

written on my enamel. Read the rest of this entry »

The Aspinauts head to Ballarat’s Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts

March5

On May 21st, for one night only Donna Williams and The Aspinauts will perform the rock musical Footsteps of a Nobody at the prestigious Wendouree Centre For Performing Arts.  Proudly sponsored by Ballarat Autism Network as part of World Autism Awareness Month, the WCPA is Ballarat’s jewel in the crown theatre with seating for over 850.  With question time to follow the show this is an opportunity for an amazing, informative and inspiring night out. Read the rest of this entry »

Ladies and Gentlemen , welcome to the war

February26

In 2008 The Aspinauts and I were gathered in a living room improvising with me doing beat poetry as the guys jammed on guitars, drums, keyboards.  It became an anti war protest song, Ladies and Gentlemen.  Luckily, someone hit the record button so when Paul joined us as drummer in 2009 we began to rehearse the song.  It became a powerful, almost Floydian stand out piece of sound art and made it onto the debut album, Broken Biscuit in 2010.

Here’s the video clip made by Oz Thomas, a colorful human and a wonderful poet in his own right.

Melbourne House Concerts – Donna and The Aspinauts

February21

The Aspinauts are known for their mixture of theatre, spoken word and catchy, evocative songs with meaning.  Having played small independent theatres, we like to connect with the audience, create an intimate atmosphere.  So the concept of house concerts really appealed.  So what is a house concert? Read the rest of this entry »

The dance with immune deficiency

February18

THE DANCE

Grizzle, grizzle, grizzle grump.
Sore throat you woke me like a broken record.
“But you sounded so good…”.
And I remember myself like a poster glossy and shiny
shredded overnight in my interrupted dreams.

We’ll fingers crossed, hey?
We’ll hope like hell.
‘Cause Jesus ain’t waiting in the sunlight with fairy dust.

and positive thinking won’t buy me a Mercedes
(or an immune system).

Click your heels Dorothy.
Hope ’til your nipples fall off. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s In The Can

February12

The film may not be in the can but it is in the jar.  The UK autism documentary, Jam Jar, has just been released on Film Baby. Read the rest of this entry »

Weirdos Like Me

February10

Three years ago I began an interactive poetry challenge on my blog.   It involved the public sending me 1-2 word titles and I had to send back a poem to each title within 48 hours.

Ranging from surreal, to grungy, from romantic, to funny, from political to symbolic and everywhere in between, the poems were as diverse as the titles sent in.   I gathered them into a collection called Weirdos Like Me.  It’s a collection of poetry, art and surrealism.  Amidst the poetry are also song lyrics to songs by Donna And The Aspinauts with whom I am the lead singer and main singer-songwriter. Read the rest of this entry »

V-day

February9

Oh Valentine, forgive me not.

Was it whilst I blinked, you stole my heart?

A potted plant, upon my porch.

It sits in bloom, for now. Read the rest of this entry »

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