What is Disability: Reclaiming Self Through Art?

All of the participants in the exhibition are artists with disabilities. Some of the disabilities are Attention Deficit Disorder, Macular Degeneration, Multiple Sclerosis, and Developmental Disabilities. Other artists included here are: a savant, a person with rheumatiod arthritis, a paraplegic, a quadriplegic, persons who are blind, someone who is physically disabled and uses crutches, someone who stutters, someone who was disabled by AIDS, and artists with brain injuries who were disabled in automobile accidents. Most of the artists address their particular disability while others make little or no reference to it. The mediums in which these artists produce work include painting, photography, sculpture, fiber art, computer imaging and poetry.

All of the artists wish to reclaim their identities in society, but what they need most is recognition and accessibility to exhibitions in the art world. Whatever their disability might be, they wish to be recognized for their abilities. Through the art shown in this exhibition, perhaps a better understanding of persons with disabilities might result.