In Washington D.C., the general public reception for the artwork exhibition Interchange is being hosted by The John F. Kennedy Middle for the Performing Arts, as a part of the Entry/VSA Rising Younger Artists Program, a Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Incapacity Program.
This nationwide artwork program and exhibition comes on account of a 20-year collaboration with the Volkswagen Group of America. It’ll function 15 disabled artists, ages 16- 25, displaying their work in venues throughout the nation the place every artist’s particular person expertise, mode of expression, and consider of the world is highlighted and valued.
With this theme for the exhibition, this system amplifies the artists’ work and helps individuals deepen their understanding of incapacity and the humanities.
Artists who can have their work displayed embody Melina Ahmad (they/them) and Sophia Gibbins from New York; Grace Benjamin from Woodbridge, VA; Benjamin “Pins” Leese from Lorton, VA; and Santiago Lopez from San Diego, CA.
Ahmad, who is eighteen and has postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), was initially unable to create artwork for a yr on account of being mattress certain, however they regained sufficient power to pursue visible artwork. Via multimedia works centering their very own disabled physique, they reveal the observe of discovering magnificence inside incapacity.
In Fragmented Self Portrait, Melina fractures a portray of themselves, depicting the wrestle of self-perception in a world that alienates and degrades disabled individuals. By separating items of the portrait with layers of fragile plexiglass, they impart the fragile connection between the physique and thoughts of a disabled individual.
The works of 23-year-old Grace Benjamin pull from a various vary of mediums, showcasing an affinity for storytelling deeply influenced by her background as a toddler of refugees. Impressed by her mother and father’ journey from South Sudan, the reminiscences of their previous, and their goals for her future, she makes use of her items as a bridge that binds their story, discovering steadiness in human feelings and custom.
Her work can also be formed by private challenges. “Whereas themes in my work might delve into severe and even somber territories, my artistic course of, ignited by my consideration deficit dysfunction, infuses a playful and experimental dimension that challenges and enhances these themes,” Benjamin stated.
Gibbins was recognized with Crohn’s Illness on the age of 16, and he or she is now in her freshman yr of school. Her art work facilitates a dialogue that not solely helps her share her expertise however connects her with others going via related struggles bringing to life a neighborhood during which she feels a way of belonging.
“I used to be taught solely to make use of paper and canvas as the inspiration for my artwork. Once I relinquished that concept, I noticed potential for artwork throughout me. All of the sudden wooden, previous books, mirrors, glass, material and even paper plates grew to become inspiration for me to create,” Gibbins acknowledged.
Leese, 20, is a comic book guide artist and illustrator, who lately graduated from Bowling Inexperienced State College this spring. With a give attention to ink and marker supplies, his work is a testomony to his unwavering dedication to the craft, as he deftly weaves narratives and visible aesthetics into charming and thought-provoking illustrations.
“My artwork explores themes of sonder, confronting mortality, and nostalgic inspirations. The works of artists like Artwork Spiegelman and Will Eisner have considerably impressed my character design, shading strategies, and general structure. My creative purpose is to inform tales via my artwork that transfer individuals on a private degree, showcasing the epitome of what it means to be human via the technique of cartoon animals,” he defined.
Lopez, who additionally grew up in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, is an illustrator and storyteller who works to start out conversations across the intersections of his Autism Spectrum
Dysfunction (ASD) and Latinx id.
“Artwork is storytelling and I take advantage of visible metaphors and symbols to speak concepts. To spark a shift and flip the script, my work searches for hidden narratives that whisper beneath the floor. Conscious that each angle brings depth and which means to the story, I’m pushed to discover numerous views,” he stated.
He described his mediums of labor, saying, “Fusing conventional instruments with digital media, I mix imagery with textures crafted by hand or photographed like peeling paint or windswept sand.”
The exhibition shall be on view till July 28. Those that have any questions on accessibility can name the Kennedy Middle at 202-416-8727.
