It is also about working with his son, Samuel.

Samuel has autism and Swartwout is affiliated with the Autism Society of Central Wisconsin.

“There’s one main piece – Extended Forecast: All’s Well,” Swartwout said. “He contributed to that piece.”

“There’s a big issue in our state with water management,” he said. “As we were working on this, it became more and more clear that it was a collaborative piece.”

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Samuel (left) and John Swartwout speak about Nort – the exhibit at Crary Art Gallery – and using it as a way to open up communication about autism Tuesday during a mixer held at the gallery for families and providers impacted by autism.

“It’s his voice as well,” Swartwout said. “Why shouldn’t he have a voice?”

The collaboration started with Swartwout using a wooden raccoon that Samuel had made.

He asked his son what he thought the piece needed.

The repeated answer was ‘light.’

“We did a great job on the raccoon,” Samuel said. He chose a pink light – “it goes with the pink nose I made.”

Working with Samuel “was fun and at the same time it was really enlightening,” Swartwout said.

“I’m part of this show,” Samuel said. “We are very creative when we work together.”

Being an artist and working with Dad was fun, but it was also work, he said.

But their roles were clear.

“He’s the hands,” Samuel said. “I’m the brains.”

The gallery held a mixer, featuring John and Samuel Swartwout, on Tuesday.

“We invited families and providers whose lives are affected by autism and other disorders,” Crary Board President Ines Nelson said.

“Our goal is to help our families that have been affected by autism,” Swartwout said. “This is a chance for us to have conversations and connect with people.”

Family Services of Warren County Executive Director Kimberly Holt, Emily Wachter of Emily Wachter Early Intervention and Support Services, and Warren YMCA Whole Health Coordinator Erin Wallace spoke about the services their organizations offer.

There is even a special event – a part of the show that is not Swartwout’s work.

On the day of the opening for the show, Swartwout gathered some materials and invited visitors – some of whom are on the autism spectrum and some who are not – to create pieces for “Inclusopolis.”

The floating art installation is on display at the fountain pool in the Crary courtyard.

When he was discussing Inclusopolis with Nelson and Board Member Kristine Peterson, “it was like there was Red Bull in our veins,” Swartwout said. “We were all really pumped.”

“That was my favorite part” of the show, Samuel said. “It was cool. It was very creative.”

The floating city is made of pieces made of wooden blocks of various sizes and shapes.

The young men in the group gave the work a military flavor – there are some tanks floating in the pool. Samuel made a taxi first. Then he made a tank.

“It was a great participation event,” Swartwout said. “That’s what it’s about.”

The gallery is open from 12 to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Nort, and George Wiedenhofer’s Experience Captured, are on exhibit through Sept. 4.