Ikouii Open

I'm really looking forward to taking part in the Ikouii Open exhibit and artist talk! It will open online Sunday, June 10th and the artist talks start at 12 PM PST.

It's a small world. Opulent Mobility artist David Isakson let me know about Ikouii, and it turns out I will be exhibiting along with with him and Emily Tironi (who was in the past two Opulent Mobility exhibits). One of the jurors was Antoine Hunter from Urban Jazz Dance Company, a Deaf dancer, who played the prince in the updated Firebird Ballet I just designed for Abilities Dance Boston.

Here's a bit about them and this year's exhibit:

"The Ikouii Open is an annual online group exhibition of artwork created by both disabled and non-disabled artists worldwide. The goal of the open is to activate social movements, educate, inspire, and evoke change within the arts and disability communities.

This year's theme Without Labels will explore the interwoven influence of labels in disability and culture. Disability labeling has the potential to cause individuals to be singled out and even ridiculed. Labels can also define and artificially limit the way that an individual may think of themselves, and perhaps inadvertently push others to lower their expectations of an individual once they are labeled with a disability. While in retrospect, labeling perhaps helps groups of individuals who have disabilities in common form a group identity. Labeling may also provide access to proper accessibility and support.

Are disability labels necessary? Do they do more harm than good? Do they force an identity? Do labels and changing definitions help or hinder our understanding of an individual’s lived experience? What are the implications of ‘disclosing’ a disability label? Could we imagine a life without labels?"