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DISPLAY: artists with disabilities at SOMArts SF

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DISPLAY: artists with disabilities at SOMArts SF

DISPLAY: artists with disabilities at SOMArts SF

DISPLAY: artists with disabilities at SOMArts SF

DISPLAY: artists with disabilities at SOMArts SF

DISPLAY: artists with disabilities at SOMArts SF

Fran Osborne
Fran Osborne
Fran Osborne
Fran Osborne
1 Campaign |
San Francisco, United States
$110 USD 5 backers
1% of $6,500 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
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Why fund an exhibition of work by artists with and without disabilities? What would be so interesting about that you might think?

Disability culture and art is often sidelined as lightweight or treated with caution by many mainstream venues. Here in the Bay Area however, the local history of independent living and its audacious activism has created a complex and varied response by artists to the experience of disability, as well as fostering a spirit of collaboration and enquiry. I am an independent curator and excited to be sharing some of this beautiful and important new art with the local community.

Our project is "DIS/PLAY: a disability takeover by artists with and without". We are creating an exhibition and 3 evening events at SOMArts in San Francisco as part of the Commons Curatorial Residency program. Most artists in the show have a disability but some are allies and supporters and others may be teachers, aides or facilitators.

As is often stated, the disability community is the only minority anyone can join at any moment. Although this phrase is often used when discussing the statistics of disability (1 in 5 of the population and most elders), I must emphasize that this is no cringe or guilt-worthy charity project. The title is a play on words and for those academics or intellectuals who like to explore these things, it is also a nod to the past when people with disabilities may have literally been on display. Much has been written about staring, and gazing, and viewing and we are not shying away from any of those associations. However, the title is also an invitation for artists to collaborate and take over the gallery space as a playground to experiment. Wherever possible we are building in access features such as sign language interpretation, docent tours, benches for resting, audio descriptions and braille labels for some tactile installations.

We feature over 30 local artists with and without disabilities who have come together to show new visual, performance and video art, comedy, poetry and dance.

2015 is the 25th anniversary year for the Americans With Disabilities Act and the local disability arts scene is rich with innovation, collaboration and intellectual challenge. The work ranges from video pieces by Todd Herman and Darrin Martin to table-top photography by Anthony Tusler and a collaborative skateboard installation by the staff and students from the Cypress School in Petaluma. The staff and students have created experimental video with Steve Gatlin and unique skateboard musical instruments to play in the gallery as well as collaborating on a live painting installation by Neal Barbosa at the opening reception. Work by local heroes Casper Banjo (d. 2008), and Roy Ragle (d. 2014), is seen alongside paintings by Art Hazelwood and installations by Marilyn Hill, Nathan Hill and Fran Osborne that honor Banjo and many people with disabilities who have suffered abuse or violence. New large scale paintings by Katherine Sherwood, will be shown, linocuts by David Call and quilts by Corbett O'Toole. In addition, Eric Crowell, Cristine Martinez, Diana Tonge, Karim Tulloch and Jennifer Villatore, who are all artists from ArtReach Studios and Gallery at The Arc in SF are creating a site-specific sculptural installation while the work of Sally Hearn (d. 2011), Sally Lewis, Lisa Lyons, Jackie Riley, and Michael Trujillo from Artful Steps in San Leandro will be installed to create a tactile experience designed specifically for the show. NIAD in Richmond will be showing ceramic work by Raven Harper, paintings by Christian Vassell and mixed media work by Jazmin Zepeda as well as a video of interviews with each artist.

Owen Bragg will be showing his digital prints of San Francisco and several of his children's books. The image accompanying this campaign is a digital work by Bragg from a Golden Gate Bridge series. If you want to see them all, help fund their printing for the show.

We have everything in place and a little valuable seed money from SOMArts but this will not cover the cost of everything needed to make the project really fly.

The show opens on March 26th and runs until April 23rd, with an opening reception hosted by The Comedians With Disabilities Act on Thursday 26th March who will be launching their new CD. Led by Nina G. the comedians include Michael O'Connell, Steve Danner, Steve Lee, Queenie TT, and Loren Krautz. Wednesday April 8th features a performance by AXIS Dance, a screening of their new film and a Q. and A. led by Nina G. The closing reception on Thursday April 23rd, features a screening of the SINS INVALID film followed by poetry from Krip Hop founder Leroy Moore, and guests including Joy Elan Sledge, Cristina Martinez and more. We will close the project with dancing and music.

Funding is needed to produce interpretive materials in the gallery, printing and framing work for artists who do not have their own funds, audio description files for each artwork, videos of artist's sharing insights into their work, the fabrication of shelves for tactile installations and the manufacture of braille labels and programs. In order to make the events as accessible as possible to as wide an audience as possible, we need funding to provide American Sign Language interpreters for all events and would love to provide shuttle transportation from a public transport hub to the SOMArts main gallery for each event. A strenuous 30 minute walk from a bus station or BART is simply not possible for many. We really don't want anyone to miss out on the experience of the opening reception because they can't get there so please help us make this a great cultural evening for everyone who wants to attend.

Well, that about covers it but I want to leave you with a reminder that every $ really does count and each donation will make a big difference to all the artists and visitors to the show. You will be directly helping to support minority artists to have their work seen. You will also be participating in the creation of a safe and welcoming place in the SOMArts gallery that will acknowledge and highlight challenging and important cultural work and dialogue. If you are an art lover please come to the show and if you live outside the area please help us make this project work! Check out the official webpage for more information: http://www.somarts.org/display/ or get in touch with me to find out more. Sponsorships and other in-kind partnerships are also possible.

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