Bodies of Work

Celebrate Disability Pride month by telling your own story with us! Just a few spots remain in this FREE workshop series.

Just a few days remain to register for this upcoming, free, storytelling workshop space.

Access Living Presents a Storytelling Workshop Space Led by Tellin' Tales Theatre... and you're invited!

Tellin’ Tales has 28 years of experience helping people, with and without disabilities, write and perform their own personal stories. Tellin’ Tales Theatre is excited to provide new story development workshops and performances for Access Living. Participants will examine their history and experiences and craft them into a personal narrative. They will have the opportunity to share their stories and broaden the perspective of their audience and bring them into our world.

No previous experience with storytelling or performance is required!

Dates: July 10th through August 14th
Time: 2pm-4pm CST

Location: Access Living: 115 W Chicago Ave, Chicago IL 60654

Registration Link:
https://forms.gle/WgeHWc97vYiqDM3a8

Contact Joy and [email protected] with any questions.

Sponsor Information:
This series is brought to you by the Arts and Culture Project at Access Living, an independent living center for people with disabilities, Bodies of Work: Network of Disability Art and Culture, Shirley Ryan Abilities Lab, and the Disability Culture Activism Lab (DCAL), a teaching lab housed under the department of art therapy and counseling at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Bodies of Work is a part of the Department of Disability and Human Development within the College of Applied Health Sciences at University of Illinois-Chicago.

The contents of this training were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90RTCP0005). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this training do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

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Image Description: White boxes sit atop a bright background that fades from bright green to blue. The top box contains the title and has colored sparkles in the corners. Beneath that is an equally large box with the description of the event followed underneath by 3 smaller boxes in a row holding the time and dates and the text “6 workshops, 12 tellers”. Under that are 2 larger purple boxes with white text with the location of the workshops and the text “When registering, please review access information for our space.” on the left and “Registration for this intimate workshop space is now open. Please email Joy at [email protected] if you have questions.” on the right. At the bottom of the flyer are sponsor logos.

Just a few days remain to register for this upcoming, free, storytelling workshop space.

Access Living Presents a Storytelling Workshop Space Led by Tellin' Tales Theatre... and you're invited!

Tellin’ Tales has 28 years of experience helping people, with and without disabilities, write and perform their own personal stories. Tellin’ Tales Theatre is excited to provide new story development workshops and performances for Access Living. Participants will examine their history and experiences and craft them into a personal narrative. They will have the opportunity to share their stories and broaden the perspective of their audience and bring them into our world.

No previous experience with storytelling or performance is required!

Dates: July 10th through August 14th
Time: 2pm-4pm CST

Location: Access Living: 115 W Chicago Ave, Chicago IL 60654

Registration Link:
https://forms.gle/WgeHWc97vYiqDM3a8

Contact Joy and [email protected] with any questions.

Sponsor Information:
This series is brought to you by the Arts and Culture Project at Access Living, an independent living center for people with disabilities, Bodies of Work: Network of Disability Art and Culture, Shirley Ryan Abilities Lab, and the Disability Culture Activism Lab (DCAL), a teaching lab housed under the department of art therapy and counseling at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Bodies of Work is a part of the Department of Disability and Human Development within the College of Applied Health Sciences at University of Illinois-Chicago.

The contents of this training were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90RTCP0005). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this training do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

-------------------

Image Description: White boxes sit atop a bright background that fades from bright green to blue. The top box contains the title and has colored sparkles in the corners. Beneath that is an equally large box with the description of the event followed underneath by 3 smaller boxes in a row holding the time and dates and the text “6 workshops, 12 tellers”. Under that are 2 larger purple boxes with white text with the location of the workshops and the text “When registering, please review access information for our space.” on the left and “Registration for this intimate workshop space is now open. Please email Joy at [email protected] if you have questions.” on the right. At the bottom of the flyer are sponsor logos.

Let's all celebrate Disability Pride Month!

TOMORROW!!!

Don't miss this beautiful performance from past 3Arts/BOW resident artist, Janhavi Khemka, as she participates in our collaborative series, Cripping the Galleries, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

Registration and more information can be found here:

Cripping the Galleries | Janhavi Khemka - MCA Chicago Janhavi Khemka performs "Impress/ion" as part of a series in which local artists activate museums through the lens of crip culture, access, and belonging.

Join us at the MCA on July 6th for Cripping the Galleries with former BOW artist in residence Janhavi Khemka.

Access details more about the event, and registration can be found on the MCA website here: https://visit.mcachicago.org/events/cripping-the-galleries-janhavi-khemka/

Note: free tickets are available.

Cripping the Galleries | Janhavi Khemka - MCA Chicago Janhavi Khemka performs "Impress/ion" as part of a series in which local artists activate museums through the lens of crip culture, access, and belonging.

Really exciting upcoming with both in-person and virtual options to attend:

Art/Access Lab: Welcome Salon
Sunday, June 2
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Free
In Person: Experimental Station (6100 S Blackstone Ave)
Virtual: RSVP for Zoom Link
Link to register to attend (virtually or in-person): https://highconceptlabs.org/events/art-access-lab-welcome-salon

Art/Access Labs, convenings committed to fostering a vibrant disabled artist ecosystem through cross-discipline and cross-impairment professional development activities, kicks off with a salon-style gathering inviting attendees to share and discuss artwork, short performances/readings, clips, scenes, and anything else they might be working on. Sharing a project is optional. For those who wish to share, projects in any medium are welcome: time-based work (video, dance, song, spoken word, etc) should be limited to five minutes and any fine art should not require installation. There is also an option to attend virtually!

A very exciting opportunity:

INTERNATIONAL OPEN CALL
FOR COMPOSERS UNDER 35 WITH DISABILITIES
or ARTISTIC TEAM OF COMPOSERS UNDER 35 INCLUDING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

"Let's PASS" is a call to action, a call for a change of perspective, a counter-narrative of disabilities in the performing arts. PASS - Promoting Accessible Shows is an international project, co-funded by the Creative Europe Program of the European Union, addressing the problem of lack of engagement and visibility for artists and audiences with cognitive and sensory disabilities in live performances and performing arts. The project is coordinated by Fondazione Arturo Toscanini (Italy) with ACCAC (Finland), En Dynamei (Greece) and Studio Citadela (Czech Republic).

The selected composer or composers team will be formally entrusted with the composition of not more than 2 original musical pieces, to be performed during the year 2025, with an expected remuneration of € 1.500,00 (gross and all-inclusive of any fees and expenses). The specific characteristics of the musical compositions to be realised and the precise timetable will be communicated directly to the person or artistic team of reference who will be awarded the call, who will be asked to undertake to respect the project timetable and objectives.

Deadline for applications by 20 June 2024

Learn more and apply here: https://finland.accac.global/en/2024/04/19/pass-international-open-call-for-composers/

There are some great opportunities taking applications from 3Arts, including the Midwest Award For Artists With Disabilities.
You can apply for the Midwest Award For Artists With Disabilities here until May 23rd:
https://artsmidwest.org/get-support/midwest-award-for-artists-with-disabilities/

Or explore more opportunities on their website here:
https://artsmidwest.org/get-support/

TOMORROW! Don't miss Ariella Granados speak about their amazing work at Access Praxis at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Tickets are pay what you can (including free) at https://mca.social/49l1xas

On April 30, join us for a Talk with multidisciplinary artist, Ariella Granados on accessibility with Bodies of Work.

Along with partnering artists and organizations, Bodies of Work serves as a catalyst for the development of disability art and culture that illuminates the disability experience in new and unexpected ways.
https://mca.social/49l1xas

On April 30, join us for a Talk with multidisciplinary artist, Ariella Granados on accessibility with Bodies of Work.

Along with partnering artists and organizations, Bodies of Work serves as a catalyst for the development of disability art and culture that illuminates the disability experience in new and unexpected ways.
https://mca.social/49l1xas

You're invited to join us for Ill at Ease, a virtual workshop on found material collage with 2024 3Arts/Bodies of Work resident artist Auden Granger.

Date and time: Tuesday, April 30th, 10am CDT

Location: Zoom (link will be sent to registrants prior to workshop)

What to expect:
2024 3Arts/Bodies of Work resident artist Auden Granger will demonstrate paper collage techniques and talk about the ideology that guides their work in found material collage. This workshop will focus on what it means to make art within the limitations of your body and the limitations of found materials, particularly for chronically ill and homebound people. It will also include some time to work on your own project and talk with the artist and other participants.

For access information (including an all-text description of the flyer), to register, and to request a kit be mailed to you for the workshop please visit: https://forms.gle/9B21BwqmwFDJucdt6

Wonderful opportunity open to ages 18-26 from Disability Culture Activism Lab

Does the climate crisis keep you up at night? Do you feel hopeless and depressed thinking about the government’s response to climate change? Are you interested in activism?

A eco-art therapy study called The Power of Art: Recycled Sculptures as Art Therapy and Eco-Resistance is currently recruiting participants ages 18-26 to take part in an in-person art therapy workshop series. The study will take place on April 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th from 12-3pm CT at Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange - CCRx.

Participants will complete a survey, take part in group art therapy sessions focused on using recycled materials to make protest art, and have open discussion about climate grief and how protest art can be used to cope with despair about climate change. No art experience necessary, but participants must be able to commit to all four sessions.

Access Info: CCRX is wheelchair accessible, and ASL interpretation is available by request. Please request ASL interpretation by Wednesday, April 3rd when you RSVP. If you have any questions about accommodations, please email Grace Gimpel at [email protected].

Interested in learning more? Fill out the interest form:
https://forms.gle/A4X28smit4oqvfsd7

ID: Light green text on a gray background. Background includes a black and white photograph of wintertime trees shot from below, looking skyward. Small bits of sky are visible between the crisscrossing snow-covered branches . Along the bottom are logos for the event sponsors. In the top right corner, there is a QR code that when scanned takes you to the study interest form.

Does the climate crisis keep you up at night? Do you feel hopeless and depressed thinking about the government’s response to climate change? Are you interested in activism?

A eco-art therapy study called The Power of Art: Recycled Sculptures as Art Therapy and Eco-Resistance is currently recruiting participants ages 18-26 to take part in an in-person art therapy workshop series. The study will take place on April 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th from 12-3pm CT at Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange - CCRx.

Participants will complete a survey, take part in group art therapy sessions focused on using recycled materials to make protest art, and have open discussion about climate grief and how protest art can be used to cope with despair about climate change. No art experience necessary, but participants must be able to commit to all four sessions.

Access Info: CCRX is wheelchair accessible, and ASL interpretation is available by request. Please request ASL interpretation by Wednesday, April 3rd when you RSVP. If you have any questions about accommodations, please email Grace Gimpel at [email protected].

Interested in learning more? Fill out the interest form:
https://forms.gle/A4X28smit4oqvfsd7

ID: Light green text on a gray background. Background includes a black and white photograph of wintertime trees shot from below, looking skyward. Small bits of sky are visible between the crisscrossing snow-covered branches . Along the bottom are logos for the event sponsors. In the top right corner, there is a QR code that when scanned takes you to the study interest form.

We are just a few hours away from this opening for 3Arts/Body of Work 2024 resident artist Kal Lee

Unfortunately, we are not able to provide ASL for this event though captioning will be available.

You will want to save this one in your calendar! Don’t miss “Dust Beneath Snow,” an exhibition of work by Kal.

Join us for the opening reception on March 8th from 5-9pm.

This work addresses errors and oddities within one’s perceptions of the world. These perceptions come from a neglectful relationship with the artist’s parents, a transitory relationship to both Korean and Chinese culture, and finding their own identity among states of confusion and stress. They find themselves compelled to attempt to arrange everything into a rigid formula that nests in a system, one that can be understood, if only to themselves. Disability has placed them in repeated attempts to comprehend, causing further distortions. Their artwork addresses these errors, highlighting undefinable dissociative feelings and allowing space to be confused. Displaced objects, as seen in Kal’s artwork, offer us our own chance to feel disconnected, but simultaneously struggle to find continuity and purpose.

We look forward to seeing you all there!!

Image description: a white three hole, not lined, notebook page has notes on the top half of the page. Some notes are written in English, some in Korean, but all by a similar hand. There is a yellow dot at the top left, which is the only color on the page, but a little below that is a black, redacted, marker drawn rectangle. The English text just left of center is listed in a small table with four rows unequally drawn. Along the bottom half is a bluish rectangle, superimposed on the drawn page, which contains information about the opening reception.

Come enjoy 3Arts/Bodies of Work resident artist Kal Lee opening at The Center for Mad Culture!

AXIS Dance Company Summer Intensive Applications are now open for the 2024 Summer Intensive, which will take place this June 24th – 28th at the UC Berkeley Dept. of Theater, Dance & Performance Studies in Berkeley, California.

Applications close on March 31st, 2024 at 11:59pm PT.

Learn more about the application and find links about funding assistance here: http://tinyurl.com/5fb64drf

AXIS invites disabled, non-disabled, and neurodiverse dancers and educators from around the world to join our 5-day intensive to engage, share, and learn from one another and the AXIS artists.

Summer Intensive | AXIS Dance Company AXIS Dance Company's annual Summer Intensive invites disabled and non-disabled dancers from around the world to engage, share and learn from one anothe ...

Last chance to catch this fantastic event you won’t want to miss:

Maggie Bridger debuts in Steppenwolf's Lookout series with "Radiate". Radiating a reimagined space from the moment of entering the black box theatre, you're greeted with one-time use heating pads, cooling items, ear defenders, weighted blankets, alternative floor seating, and more. The mask-required performance space invites comfort. This might cause you to first notice ways you feel discomfort, as it did me, such as how tight your shoelaces feel. While readjusting shoelaces, a performance reimagined for increased access begins.

60 minutes with no intermission, we begin with an explanation of how ASL interpretation, audio description, and captioning are built in to engage the audience. The performance piece is a dance intentionally built with repetition, humor, pain, discomfort, and repetition. Maggie Bridger is a captivating solo act that builds on repetition until it becomes discovery.

If you're a fan of looking out for a dance performance to move you, don't miss the last performance of "Radiate" today, Saturday, February 24th at 8pm. Tickets are $5-$20 on a sliding scale, available at

Radiate An ongoing, iterative process and project, Radiate explores the mundanity, humor and time-bending experience of pain and care. Working across video, craft and movement, this piece invites audiences to make themselves comfortable in the artist's home as she continually traces deeply worn pathways, se...

Join us for the next installment of deCRIPtion: Crip Manifestos for Living

deCRIPtion is our storytelling and poetry workshop series designed by and with disability community in mind.

We offer dinner for our in-person workshop and a zoom alternative for those who prefer or need a virtual option. The first date of each month is always in-person and the second date listed is virtual.

You can RSVP (or simply join our list to keep getting updates) here: https://forms.gle/VF2ZK9R1Wh1zpMkP9

All workshops held from 6:30-8:30pm CST

Thursday February 22nd and Friday February 23rd:
Join us for an exciting evening writing manifestos in community We'll present two examples of existing manifestos, after which we'll have a brainstorm about what your manifestos would look like. During the second half of the workshop you will write your own manifestos in break-out groups before sharing and reflecting together.

More workshops will be announced soon!

ACCESS INFO: Food will be provided for in-person workshops with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options available. The workshop space is in an accessible building and more directions on access will be emailed ahead of workshops. ASL or CART services available upon request. Virtual workshops will have auto-captioning or live captioning depending on availability and requests for captioning and/or ASL. Please note for the February workshop, CART services have been requested so will be provided.

For accommodation requests or other questions please email Beth with Access Living at [email protected]
If your access request is not regarding services and is something the instructors would need to build into their class, please also specify your needs at the registration link in the provided space.

Sponsors: These workshops are brought to you by the Arts and Culture Project at Access Living, an independent living center for people with disabilities; Shirley Ryan Abilities Lab; and the Disability Culture Activism Lab (DCAL), a teaching lab housed under the department of art therapy and counseling at SAIC. This program received generous funding from Healing IL: funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services in partnership with the Field Foundation. This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
The contents of this program were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90RTCP0005). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Workshop content does not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Please note the event date, Friday, March 1 for the hybrid Chicago Disability Day of Mourning Vigil.

Via the UIC Disability Cultural Center :

"Every year, communities across the country and around the world join together for the Disability Day of Mourning (DDOM).

The DDOM is a community vigil that honors the lives of people with disabilities killed by their families and caregivers. The disability community comes together in remembrance, to share hope for the future, and to offer support.

Friday, March 1, 2024
5:30PM-7:00PM
On Zoom & at the UIC Disability Cultural Center (1007 W. Harrison Street, Room 231)

Nondisabled allies, family members, and friends are welcome to join.

This vigil is a hybrid event. It will be held on Zoom as well as in-person at the UIC Disability Cultural Center. Space is limited for in-person, so please reserve an in-person spot on Eventbrite: https://go.uic.edu/DDOM24 !

This event is a collaboration between the Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition (DPOCC), the UIC Disability Cultural Center, the Coalition of Autistic and Neurodivergent Students (CANS), and the Co-Op Program at UIC's Department of Disability and Human Development."

ID: Chicago’s riverwalk skyline at nightfall, with a white Disability Day of Mourning logo in the top-center. A white bar with black text and white text under it provides event details. At the bottom, white text says “in memory of all disabled lives taken by state, family, and caretaker violence.”

SAVE THE DATE! Please join us on Friday, March 1 for the Chicago Disability Day of Mourning Vigil.

Every year, communities across the country and around the world join together for the Disability Day of Mourning (DDOM).

The DDOM is a community vigil that honors the lives of people with disabilities killed by their families and caregivers. The disability community comes together in remembrance, to share hope for the future, and to offer support.

Friday, March 1, 2024
5:30PM-7:00PM
On Zoom & at the UIC Disability Cultural Center (1007 W. Harrison Street, Room 231)

Nondisabled allies, family members, and friends are welcome to join.

This vigil is a hybrid event. It will be held on Zoom as well as in-person at the UIC Disability Cultural Center. Space is limited for in-person, so please reserve an in-person spot on Eventbrite: https://go.uic.edu/DDOM24 ! To register for the Zoom, use https://go.uic.edu/DDOMZoom24

This event is a collaboration between the Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition (DPOCC), the UIC Disability Cultural Center, the Coalition of Autistic and Neurodivergent Students (CANS), and the Co-Op Program at UIC's Department of Disability and Human Development.

ID: Chicago’s riverwalk skyline at nightfall, with a white Disability Day of Mourning logo in the top-center. A white bar with black text and white text under it provides event details. At the bottom, white text says “in memory of all disabled lives taken by state, family, and caretaker violence.”

Another great free event opportunity:

RED- A Crayon's ASL Story

A family fun film with story & games

A crayon who is mistakenly labeled “r-e-d” could never draw anything right until a friend changed everything and helped him be true to himself!

The film includes the story, an interactive quiz and ASL lesson, all presented with ASL performance, enhanced text, voice over, animation & original music.

March 10, 2024 @ 2-4 p.m.

Chicago History Museum

1601 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

Free with RSVP at bit.ly/Red-ASL-Film

Presented by Sally Is Sarah Productions, Chicago Hearing Society, Chicago History Museum

More information about the film can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16U_-6LBXAiHnYVD1k-rpTbosRgpwaww9vhJAKvnJGuQ/edit?usp=sharing

Want to hear some first hand experience that explore relationships to the body? Check this out:

Tellin’ Tales Theatre’s Hands Up! Body delves into the impact of body demands and perceptions in our daily lives. Body dissatisfaction, changes in physical ability, and aging are just some of the topics explored. Each story examines the vulnerability, challenges, and wisdom built from the writer's experience. Our bodies look and work exactly as they are supposed to, each with its own unique beauty. Video clips from Momenta, a dance company inclusive of artists with disabilities will be included in the performance. This performance is co-sponsored by Northeastern Illinois University and the Disability Cultural Center.

Learn more and order tickets at: https://tellintales.org/

Photo Description: A brown background with hands of various skin tones reaching high into the air. The show title and performance information is superimposed over the image.

Great event coming up!

Repost
Artists and present THE BLUE DESCRIPTION PROJECT a work that builds on Derek Jarman’s BLUE (1993)—an epoch-defining account of AIDS, illness, and disability—through newly commissioned and expansive accessibility. The project brings attention to the multifaceted and multisensory nature of BLUE—which existed as a film, CD, television program, radio broadcast, and book—while offering a striking counter to ableist hierarchies in the arts.

Liza Sylvestre and Christopher Jones: The Blue Description Project
Thursday, February 15, 6:00 p.m.
Gene Siskel Film Center
164 N. State St.


Sylvestre, Jones, and scholar —director of the Voices in the Gallery project—will join us virtually for an extended conversation about the project after the screening.

Presented in partnership with ’ Department of Art Therapy and Counseling, , and , a multi-institutional program comprised of DCAL; ’s Art and Culture Project, .dcc, UIC’s Program on Disability Art, Culture, and Humanities, and ,

TICKETS

Free for SAIC students, $5 for SAIC/AIC faculty and staff, $6.50 for members and $13 for the general public.

Ticket link in bio.

ACCESS

CATE events are presented with real-time captions (CART). This event will also have ASL interpretation. Hearing loops, wheelchair accessibility, and companion seating are also available at the . For other accessibility requests, please visit saic.edu/access or write [email protected].

Repost from
Artists and present THE BLUE DESCRIPTION PROJECT a work that builds on Derek Jarman’s BLUE (1993)—an epoch-defining account of AIDS, illness, and disability—through newly commissioned and expansive accessibility. The project brings attention to the multifaceted and multisensory nature of BLUE—which existed as a film, CD, television program, radio broadcast, and book—while offering a striking counter to ableist hierarchies in the arts.

Liza Sylvestre and Christopher Jones: The Blue Description Project
Thursday, February 15, 6:00 p.m.
Gene Siskel Film Center
164 N. State St.


Sylvestre, Jones, and scholar —director of the Voices in the Gallery project—will join us virtually for an extended conversation about the project after the screening.

Presented in partnership with ’ Department of Art Therapy and Counseling, , and , a multi-institutional program comprised of DCAL; ’s Art and Culture Project, .dcc, UIC’s Program on Disability Art, Culture, and Humanities, and ,

TICKETS

Free for SAIC students, $5 for SAIC/AIC faculty and staff, $6.50 for members and $13 for the general public.

Ticket link in bio.

ACCESS

CATE events are presented with real-time captions (CART). This event will also have ASL interpretation. Hearing loops, wheelchair accessibility, and companion seating are also available at the . For other accessibility requests, please visit saic.edu/access or write [email protected].