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Latest Activities 最新活動
News Release from Liberty Times 自由時報新聞報導 2009-6-11
 | | 李柏毅昨天前往台南市永福國小演唱，受到偶像歌手般歡迎。 （記者黃文鍠攝）
Leland Lee performed on stage yesterday at Yung-Fu Elementary School. He was greeted like a rock star by his fans. | |
自閉症智繪高 奪天才畫家獎
被醫生認定終生無法講話
〔記者黃文鍠／台南報導〕20歲的李柏毅罹患重度自閉症，1歲半就被醫生判定可能終生無法講話，在家人永不放棄的協助下，他現在可以上台演唱，並且展現繪畫天分，將在今年8月前往加拿大領取「世界資優天才畫家」獎項。
民國78年在美國加州洛杉磯出生的李柏毅，3年多前隨父母舉家返台定居，外公簡錦錐先生為台北武昌街知名的「明星西點咖啡廳」創辦人，目前柏毅在外公的咖啡廳工作，持續繪畫創作。
柏毅的母親簡靜惠說，柏毅出生時，原本跟一般孩童一樣，但1歲半時，卻突然出現不願與他人互動，稍微不順意，就大哭大鬧，家人帶他到醫院檢查，才發現是重度自閉症。
幼年怕水 卻拿過游泳金牌
柏毅發病後，相當怕水，每天要洗澡時，總要牢牢攀著母親的脖子。此外，柏毅一直到7歲還無法說出完整的句子，媽媽就在家裡貼滿了圖卡，一個字、一個字慢慢教導。
在宗教力量協助下，柏毅的父母，一而再、再而三的開導，花了好幾年時間，協助柏毅克服對水的恐懼，進而學習游泳，如今不但成為游泳健將，甚至還曾在身障奧運會獲得金牌殊榮。
具美術天分 畫畫時最專心
柏毅3歲時，老師發現他對色彩特別有概念，經專業機構鑑定後，發現他相當有美術天分，在他進小學後，就被安排進入加州州立大學的美術天才班就讀，而自閉症「興趣範圍有顯著侷限」的特徵，更讓他練習繪畫時，心無旁騖，畫出一幅幅令人讚嘆的圖畫。
台南市永福國小昨天邀請李柏毅及媽媽、外公到學校表演，學校近千名學童熱情地與柏毅打招呼，同學們真摯的熱情讓柏毅相當感動，還親自走下舞台，現場氣氛高亢，宛如偶像簽名會。
更多活動照片：
2009-6-11 台南市永福國小演唱會
 |  | | 與同工們合照，主題：『讓愛飛揚』 | 接受永福國小校長的感謝狀。 |
2009-6-12 台南市忠義國小演唱會
 |  | | 受到同學們熱烈歡迎。 | 接受忠義國小校長的感謝狀。 |
The video links below is a 15 minute TV program produced by ERA Communications in Taiwan. Please click on the pictures below to view it. (in Mandarin)
Art Exhibition at Taoyuan International Airport. Please cleck here to view the art works on display.
Leland will be featured in a research paper presentation titled "An Adolescent Savant Artist:Leland Lee" at the 18th Biennial World Conference on Gifted and Talented Children on August 3-7, 2009 in Vancouver. Please click here for additional information.
 Congratulations to Leland, the First Place winner of the 2006 Animagination Art Festival by 20th Century Fox. This year, the Animagination mascot, Stuart, is the subject of the art contest. Please see Stuart and Leland's award winning entry below.
 |  | | Animagination Mascot | Click here to enlarge |
 Leland is an artist. A once-in-many-lifetimes artist. He sees the world in brilliant colors,meticulous perfection and great depth. His perspectives force you to reconsider what is possible—no matter how many times you look at the same painting....[more]
Peter Straus
Executive Director
Prime Time Sports Camp | |
 Leland Lee is an artist of great talent his work depicts images that capture the imagination and behold the viewer from the intense color that instantly grabs our attention. Leland Lee's work connects to all different types of people, different age groups, with different interest. He manages through his work to speak in volumes...[more]
Carlos Vargas
Director of programs
Conservatory of Fine Arts | | | |
 It was extraordinary to witness the results of the commitment and collaboration between you Help Group students and the Milken Festival for Youth. We commend you for your fine artwork, and it is hanging prominently in our two offices...[more]
Rosey Grier, Board Member
Milken Family Foundation
Greg Gallagher, Program Administrator
Milken Festival for Youth | | | |
Leland Lee was born on May 29, 1989 of a Taiwanese American family in Los Angeles. Diagnosed to be autistic since two years of age, Leland struggled with developmental challenges at an early age. Despite his disabilities, in 1998, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) recognized Leland to be a specially gifted child in visual arts and has enrolled him in LAUSD's Conservatory of Fine Arts. Leland has received numerous prizes in art contests and festivals, and was chosen by Los Angeles Times in 1999 as one of the 100 Remarkable Kids. Leland's art works have been featured in a number of art exhibitions and events, the more notable ones are:
- Group art exhibitions in Taipei City and Kauhsiung City, Taiwan (2005)
- Group art exhibition at BGH Gallery in Santa Monica (2005)
- Group show with Taiwanese-American Art Association in L.A.(2005)
- Taiwanese American Heritage Week art exhibition in L.A. (2005)
- Group art exhibition at Taiwanese Cultural Center in San Diego (2005)
- Personal art exhibition at Da-Dao-Cheng Museum in Taipei (2004)
- Personal art exhibition at BGH Gallery in Santa Monica (2004)
- Joint art exhibition at Chinese Culture Center in Los Angeles (2003)
- Thanksgiving art exhibition at Chinese United Christian Church (2002)
- LAUSD Arts Festival at L.A. Music Center (2001 & 2003)
- Taiwanese American Heritage Week art exhibition in L.A. (2000)
Leland currently attends 10th grade at Village Glen School in Culver City. He is also a competitive swimmer who trains with the Westwood Pool Swim Team in the City of Los Angeles (COLA) Aquatics program.
This is what a family friend said about Leland...
I've known Leland Lee since he was three years old, then a toddler struggling to communicate his needs and desires to family, friends, and teachers. Somehow, pen and paper found their way into the hands of Leland, and the world of communication opened. Every need, every joy, every hurt, everything Leland sees and feels and hears and says is translated from his brain and heart to his paper. His art work explodes with the deep unfettered and totally honest impressions of his soul. There is no one Leland is trying to please, no special audience Leland is trying to reach or reward Leland is trying to attain. His work is pure and simple and in it's humility, it speaks profound feelings and impressions. Artistic preferences such as distortions, choice of color, subject matter and intensity escape from Leland's soul to the paper, every single time he sets out to draw or paint. One might ask what contribution an autistic adolescent can make to a sophisticated and educated culture such as ours. The answer is simple, as clean and unadulterated as the paintings in Leland's collection. Just Look.
--- Leslie Flesch
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