Changing Landscapes: Supporting Artists with Disabilities

The Institute on Community Integration is engaged with partners at the University and in the Twin Cities community on two important initiatives: a symposium on ideas and action to support artists with disabilities, held at the University's Weisman Art Museum on October 30, 2009, as well as an ongoing display of artwork by individuals with disabilities in Pattee Hall, the main office building of ICI on the University of Minnesota East Bank Campus.

Arts & Disability Symposium, U of M

The Institute was proud to co-host the Symposium on the Arts & Disability on October 30, 2009 at the Weisman Art Museum to share ideas and strengthen opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the arts. We were honored to have Tom di Maria, director of Creative Growth Art Center in Oakland, California, as our keynote speaker. In addition, three panels of prominent artists, educators, and program directors added to the discussion of ways to strengthen opportunities for artists with disabilities.

Ongoing Art Exhibits

Pattee Hall, University of Minnesota

New installments of art are displayed in Pattee Hall, the workplace of the Institute on Community Integration, approximately every four months. Staff and visitors are invited to purchase art directly from the participating organizations.

On Exhibit Now (November - December 2009)

Artists from all of our symposium partners are exhibiting their work in Pattee Hall from November through December, 2009:

• Interact Center for Visual and Performing Art
• Partnership Resources Inc.
• VSA arts of Minnesota
• ArtShop
• Rise, Inc.

See Artwork Exhibits on U of M Campus for other exhibit locations.

Photos of Select Art Opening Events

• VSA arts of Minnesota on July 22, 2009
• Slideshow of all 2007-2008 tours including guest comments
• Courage Center Art Opening on June 12, 2008
• Partnership Resources, Inc. Art Opening on February 5, 2008
• Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts Art Opening on September 17, 2007

News Articles Related to Ongoing Exhibits

• Changing Landscapes: An art exhibit - Paintings showcase works made by Twin Cities area artists with disabilities, July 21, 2009, UMN Brief

• Show and Sell: U of M art exhibit promotes artists with disabilities, March 10, 2008, Access Press, Inc.

• ICI (MN UCEDD) Launches "Changing Landscapes: The Visiting Artists with Disabilities Project", January 7, 2008, Association for University Centers on Disability Web site.

• ICI Launches “Changing Landscapes: The Visiting Artists with Disabilities Project”, August 2007, ICI’s FYI Newsletter

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the generous support of ICI, its committed staff members, and the participating organizations and artists loaning and selling their artwork. Special thanks to a grant from the College of Education and Human Development’s Multicultural and Diversity Committee for supporting us in our inaugural year, 2007-2008.

Arts committee members

Current arts committee members at ICI (from left to right): Pat Salmi (co-chair), Kelly Hrenko, Melissa Critchley-Rodriguez, Cliff Poetz, Megan Dushin (co-chair), and Amanda Webster. Congratulations to the 2007-2008 committee for winning the ICI Excellence and Community Building Award in 2008!

More Information

For more information, please contact Megan Dushin, dushi001@umn.edu, (612) 626-8649 or Pat Salmi, salm0054@umn.edu, (612) 625-9700.