Artists Disabling Assumptions

2015 marks the 25th Anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Northfield Arts Guild presents a retrospective of this important moment by featuring artists with disabilities in all of its gallery spaces, in addition to facilitating community conversations about accessibility and inclusion, a professional development workshop for educators on inclusive practices, and a day of performing arts events.

The Gallery exhibits officially open on September 24 and will run through October 28. Artists featured in the Main Gallery include painter Annie Young, painter Sherrie Grube, wood artist Paul J. Flick, and literary artist Alison Bergblom Johnson. The Up Gallery, located on the second level of the Northfield Arts Guild Center for the Arts, features the work of artists from Laura Baker Services and facilitated by Martin Thorsheim. Allina Medical Clinic showcases a photo essay documenting the work of the Guild’s Autism and the Arts program, led by Laura Goodwin. Photography is by Rob Morrow and Meg Ojala. An audio guide tour will be available for the Main Gallery and Up Gallery works, and devices will be available in the gift shop to use.

The opening day of the retrospective, September 24, will also feature the first community conversation. Starting at 7 pm, the Northfield Arts Guild Center for the Arts will screen the documentary film, FIXED: The Science/Fiction of Human Enhancement, produced and directed by Regan Pretlow Brashear. The film lasts approximately 50 minutes and will be followed by a discussion facilitated by Dr. Tammy Berberi, Associate Professor of French with an emphasis in disability studies at the University of Minnesota, Morris. The second community conversation, “Working as an Artist with a Disability,” will be held on October 22 at 7 pm in Buntrock Commons, Trollhaugen Room, at St. Olaf College. The conversation will feature a panel with artists Annie Young, Alison Bergblom Johnson,

and Michael Cohn. Both community conversations are free and open to the public, and are co-sponsored with St. Olaf’s Academic Support Center/Disability and Access Office.

Local professional and pre-service educators are invited to attend a professional development workshop, “Creating Safe, Supportive Environments for Learners of All Abilities.” The workshop will be held on October 1 from 6-8 pm and October 6 from 6-9 pm. Laura Goodwin, program director for the Autism and the Arts program at the Northfield Arts Guild, and Alyssa Herzog Melby, Executive Director of the Northfield Arts Guild, will facilitate the workshop and share tips and strategies for using visual and performing arts to create safe, supportive classroom environments where every learner can shine. On the second day, participants will join the A+ Art Club during one of their regular meetings to see these tips and strategies in action. Continuing education hours will be awarded by the Northfield Public School District. The materials fee is $20 for professional teachers, free for pre-service teachers. Educators can register online, by calling 507-645-8877, or by stopping at the Center for the Arts.

Saturday, October 17 will showcase performing artists of all abilities in two separate variety show performances. A 2 pm “family friendly” performance will feature the “From A to B” dance trio of Cary Bittinger, Angelique Lele, and Kathleen Pender; a theater piece featuring Jim and Andrew Rossow; dance pieces performed by Emma Hilson and Michael Cohn, and a folk dance piece danced by Liana Cole, Atia Cole, Kate Stuart, and Ana Baez. The 7:30 pm “for mature audience only” performance will dive into often hidden narratives of the disability experience, including relationships, romance, and sex. The 7:30 pm performance includes musician and dancer Brian Evans, Jason Noer leading a small hip-hop dance piece, narrative performing artist Alison Berglom Johnson performing her work “An Open Letter to the Men of Craigslist,” actor and writer Amy Salloway performing various works, and dancer Michael Cohn showcasing a piece, “Three Different Views on Life.”

In order to be as financially accessible as possible, both performances on October 17 feature Radical Hospitality. A small portion of event tickets may be purchased ahead of time for guaranteed admission, but the majority of the tickets will be available at the door for whatever amount a patron is willing to pay. We strive to be inclusive of all members of our community, welcome those who may never have attended a performance with us before, and encourage those who are financially able to help us support this vital concept of arts for all. The box office will open 1 hour prior to the performance.

Access accommodations, such as ASL interpretation, assistive listening devices, large print programs, and audio description, will be available for both ADA Retrospective performances on October 17; no reservations are necessary. Access accommodations for other events in the retrospective can be requested by calling 507-645-8877 or emailing office@northfieldartsguild.org; we kindly request two weeks advanced notice if possible.

“Artists Disabling Assumptions” is generously funded through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council and is sponsored by Laura Baker Services Association. The 2015-16 Gallery Season sponsor is Northfield News.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund. 

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