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Tiny foil art gets autistic Duluth teen noticed

By D. AILEEN DODD
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/23/08

Nicolas Simms, a budding artist with an unusual talent, has an equally unusual muse — a can of Pringles potato chips.

His cupboards at home are stocked with them. Nicolas likes Pringles for more than their crunch. The 13-year-old from Duluth is enamored with their packaging, particularly the foil at the top.

"It is strong," Nicolas said, as he focused on his work.

Nicolas Simms (right), 13, and his parents, Hekima and Nicole Havard, look at some of his creations at Hopewell Christian Academy.

Every can of Pringles is like a blank canvas for Nicolas, who has autism. With hands as deft as a surgeon's, the special needs student spends hours twisting and transforming recycled Pringles' foil into tiny basketball teams.

He's sculpted 1-inch abstract miniatures of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade — sneakers, jerseys and all.

Nicolas stands the posable figures on basketball courts with hoops made of twist-ties from a grocery store. Some teams are for play and some are for show.

"It's art green," says his dad, Hekima Havard, meaning the art is created from objects other people would consider trash.

But to Nicolas, "It's just fun."

Nicolas has been creating foil art since he was 5.

The boy of few words has found that his recyclable art is speaking volumes for him. It has gotten the attention of a Gwinnett County art gallery and the new semi-professional basketball team, the Buford Majic. Officials with the Buford Majic want Simms to create a piece in their honor. The team kicks off its inaugural season at 7:15 p.m. Saturday at Buford's Bogan Park.

"For him to be able to do the things he is doing, is really amazing," said Leroy McMath, founder of Buford Majic, a World Basketball Association team. "Working with us might encourage him to take it a step further. Ten years from now, he may be designing uniforms for the NBA."

Nicolas, who didn't talk until age 3, started creating the foil art when he was 5. His mother noticed the mess on the floor before she noticed the art.

"There was clay on the carpet, glue on the floor and markers on the bed," said his mom, Nicole Havard, a real estate agent.

One day, while picking up the paper scraps, she saw the tiny athletes. "They would be sitting on jet skis and he would be flying them through the house," Havard said.

"It was like wow, they even had wet suits," added Nicolas' dad, a marketing vice president for a technology firm in Atlanta.

Now the family is buying Pringles by the 24-pack each month. Teachers and relatives contribute, too.

Nicolas has a former professional basketball player — Jim Jackson — and artists in his extended family. Going to basketball games eventually influenced his art. Creating the tiny players became his passion.

"It became an issue at school," said his mother. "Some teachers would complain that he was making the the paper men during school time."

But focusing on the intricate details of his art, says Nicolas, helps him to concentrate. His grades improved and so did his attitude, said his parents.

"We discovered very early that he was a visual learner," Nicole Havard said.

When Nicolas left public school in the fall to attend Hopewell Christian Academy in Norcross, his Bible history and social studies teacher, Cynthia Johnson-Artis, allowed the student to work on his art during lectures and after assignments.

"Why not?" Johnson-Artis said. "He was quiet and attentive. When I asked him questions, he would always know the answers. The men are very detailed. I am very detailed."

Nicolas got an A in her class.

His principal, Skip Johnson, supported the art, too. Johnson contacted a gallery in Buford about Nicolas' unusual talent. Now, Gio'Vairs Galleries of Art is planning to display Nicolas' piece on the Buford Majic, which will include a basketball court and stadium seating.

"I am blown away by this kid," gallery director Arlesia Crooms said. "I want people to know that we have good local talent right here in our backyard."

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Lanier Middle School in Buford GA