THE ART OF
DISABILITY CULTURE
FEBRUARY 24 - MAY 20, 2022
The Art of Disability Culture at Ruth’s Table is an invitation to engage with the work of disabled artists and expand our understanding of the disability community. The exhibition is a continuation of one hosted by the Palo Alto Art Center in the fall of 2021 and aims to keep the conversation going. Ruth’s Table is a valued ally in the work of inclusion and participation for people with disabilities, and a perfect venue to showcase organizations that continue to pioneer inclusive art practices and artists whose work will challenge us.
One in four people have a disability or will acquire one through age, and although we have the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other legal protections, discrimination, prejudice and exclusion persist. Indeed, many disabled artists have become activists as a response to an often hostile or inaccessible world. The Bay Area is a fertile home to many organizations and activists who continue to forward disability rights and disability justice and disabled artists are an integral part of this strong and expanding ecosystem. Their practice and their work provide us all with a valuable model of communication and support that relies on interdependence, patience, and ingenuity.
The exhibition aims to create a safe space of reflection and contemplation, one in which it is fine to stare and experience the humanity of others. We hope that you spend time with the artwork here and leave with a new perspective and insight into the local disability community and the power of disability culture to make our society stronger and more resilient.
Fran Osborne
Guest Curator
Opening Night Celebration
Thursday, February 24 | 6-8pm
Ruth’s Table Gallery | Onsite
Exhibition Dates
February 24 - May 20, 2022
Ruth’s Table gallery
Exhibition Viewing Room
This exhibition is available for viewing online.
Explore the viewing room →
EXHIBITION PREVIEW
ARTISTs in the exhibition
Bill Bruckner
Jeremy Burleson,
Shana Harper
Camille Holvoet
Antoine Hunter
Cedric Johnson
Kaocrew ‘Yah’ Kakabutra
Michaela Oteri
Maria Radilla
Katherine Sherwood
Anthony Tusler
Rachel Ungerer
press
SF CHRONICLE | THE DATEBOOK | MARCH 2022
“7 Bay Area Art Exhibitions Not to Miss This Spring”
SF Chronicle | March 2022
“The Art of Disability Culture' comes to Ruth's Table in San Francisco”
AUDIO DESCRIPTIONS
A unique access feature of the exhibition are the audio descriptions of each artwork recorded by the artist themselves wherever possible. Audio descriptions are available via QR codes on the wall labels.
A complete playlist of audio descriptions is available here →
BRAILLE and large font
A comprehensive Braille guide with labels and audio description texts is available for Deaf/Blind and visually impaired visitors. Exhibition materials are also available in large print.
ASL interpretation
All exhibition-related events have American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, live captioning, and online components.
SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
In conjunction with the exhibition, artist Anthony Tusler has compiled a playlist of tracks that feature Disability Songs, Singers, or Songwriters.
Listen to the playlist on Spotify while exploring the exhibition online →
ARTWORK IMAGE
After Ingres, Katherine Sherwood, 2014. Acrylic and mixed media on recycled linen. From the Venuses of the Yelling Clinic series. Courtesy of the artist and Walter Maciel Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Art of Disability Culture is a continuation of one hosted by the Palo Alto Art Center in Fall 2021 and aims to keep the conversation going. Grateful thanks to all the artists, private lenders, Walter Maciel Gallery in Los Angeles, Creative Growth, NIAD Art Center, and Creativity Explored for making this exhibition possible.
EXHIBITION VIEWING ROOM
This exhibition is available for exploring online and features written and audio and written visual descriptions of each artwork, detail artwork images, as well as additional information about each artist.