Crip News v.119

New works, calls, events. Thanks for being here.

Feb 12, 2024

New Works

A white disabled man with tattoos is lying on grass, looking directly at the camera.

Disabled photographer Robert Andy Coombs recently published an account of the toll that the art world’s ableism takes on disabled artists’ financial security, healthcare, and dignity. “I didn’t get to choose any aspect of my disability,” he writes, “whereas society picks and chooses how, what, when, and who they want to interact with when it comes to disability.”
Image by red.
Organizer TL Lewis has launched a series on Instagram “to celebrate+venerate+get to know” Caribbean Rasta Black disabled anarchist vegan poet educator lover dreamer singer, Ancestor Benjamin Zephaniah and his work to support the Palestinian cause.
Disabled Palestinian drag artist Mama Ganuush ماما غنوج walked in New York Fashion Week with the House of Puglielli and called for an end of US funds to genocide in Gaza.

An artist of color looks at the camera in a white-walled gallery or studio space, in front of his notebook and next to an installation with headphones.

Accompanying his first solo show It Doesn’t Have to Make Sense at Hannah Traore Gallery in NYC (up through March 30), deaf, trans artist and actor of color Chella Man was profiled by Abigail Glasgow in Harper’s Bazaar.
Outside In presents The Pride Parade Goes On Without Me at the People’s History Museum (UK), an exhibition of artworks and poetry “exploring the intersect of LGBTQIA+ and disabled activist identities in Manchester.” Featuring works by Dara SF Addams, Evan Coombes, James Desser
Jade Louise Kay, Dee Lister, Ellie Ora Page, Oliver Waite, and curated by Julian Gray.

The first issue of Able News, a project of The Viscardi Center on Long Island (NY) and edited by disabled advocate Emily Ladau, is out now.
Mix Mag and guest editor Seb Wheeler have published a series of features raising awareness about ear damage and promoting protection for those in nightlife.

Turn Up The Bass, a new documentary from Netflix, celebrates 20 years of the Deaf rave scene, and explores the prejudice faced by the community from the mainstream electronic scene.
Justice in Aging has published a special report, “An Illusion of Protection: Meaningless Federal “Quality Measures” Endanger Assisted Living Residents.”

In Other News…

Spain has amended its constitution for only the 3rd time in its history to replace the term “handicapped” with “persons with a disability.”
The Census Bureau has canceled a proposal that would have cut a key estimated rate of disability in the United States by about 40%.
Democrats in the US House have reintroduced the SSI Restoration Act, which “modernizes and improves SSI by streamlining the claiming process, increasing asset limits, setting the minimum benefit at 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, and eliminating punitive reductions in benefits.”
The American Library Association has disbursed approximately half of its $7 million dedicated to access grants to more than 240 libraries in 43 states.

CALLS

The Sick Times is raising funds to build a full news website this year for reporting on the most pressing issues in the Long Covid community. Donate here.
As the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center prepares to launch, organizers are seeking participants for focus groups (paid) and a town hall (unpaid). More here.
Applications are open for BRIClab, a residency in Brooklyn for visual artists and media makers. More here.
Entries are open for the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, taking place April 2 - 7, 2024. More here.

EVENTS

Romance is a Myth #4: Fears of Engulfment and Abandonment

Wednesday, Feb. 14, 7 - 9pm ET, on Zoom

The Romance is a Myth Webinar Series with Dean Spade looks at how common ideas about romance make us treat each other and ourselves badly and disrupt our movements. In each webinar, we explore common traps and skills for relating with each other in ways that better align with our values and build vibrant connections. In the fourth webinar of this series, we'll look at two common fears that get activated in relationships--fear of engulfment and fear of abandonment--and how, when we act them out, they can get in the way of connection. We'll explore how to prepare for these fears to come up and what can help us be good to each other when they do. This webinar will have simultaneous Spanish and ASL interpretation and live transcription. Please check out the previous three Romance is a Myth webinars here.

Reducing Harm (As Prompt, As Practice)

TODAY, Feb. 12, 3 - 4:30pm ET, on Zoom

Taking harm reduction as an expansive and diverse set of practices and principles, this seminar featuring Imani Mason Jordan, interdisciplinary writer, artist, editor and curator and moderated by co-convener Tamara Oyola-Santiago, Director of Wellness and Health Promotion at Student Health Services at The New School, brings together theorists and practitioners to address harm reduction’s role in minimizing the risk of lethal or dangerous drug use and sexual activity, imagining abolition, and unmaking the correctional logics inherent in systems of criminalization, carcerality, and racism. Launching the final semester of the Correction* Seminar Series, this conversation unpacks practices of harm reduction that challenge structures of power and how they can prompt collective liberation through the care for our own and each other’s bodies.

Health Before Profits

Tuesday, Feb. 13, 6 - 8pm ET, online

We're having a lively event focused on putting health before profits. Hospitals are being downsized. policies are corporate-driven, and people are going bankrupt. Our health system is literally killing us. Healthcare centered solely on profits is shortsighted. We're bringing answers to the question, 'How do we transform our health care system to serve the public? We'll explore steps toward removing corporate control through "Single Payer" and "Medicare for All," reducing prescription costs, and stopping hospital closures (Beth Israel). Featuring: Robert Hennelly (Moderator), Journalist, Radio Talk Show Host; Author, “Stuck Nation,” Wendell Potter, President, Business Leaders for Health Care Transformation and the Center for Health & Democracy, Betty Kolod, MD, PNHP NY Metro Chair, internal medicine specialist, and is affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital, Marianne Pizzitola, President, NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees & FDNY EMS Retirees, Lois Uttley, Cofounder of Community Voices for Health System Accountability, Sharon McLennon Wier, Ph.D., MSEd., CRC, LMHC, Executive Director, Center for Independence of the Disabled.

Arts on Prescription

Tuesday, Feb. 13, 4 - 4:45pm ET, on Zoom

Explore the “Arts on Prescription: A Field Guide for US Communities” in our 45-minute webinar. Discover how arts on prescription can revolutionize health by integrating arts, culture, and nature into local health and social care systems! This webinar is ideal for community-based arts organizations and artists, health and social care professionals, and those interested in leveraging arts and culture for wellbeing. No prior experience is required! Lead author Dr. Tasha Golden will share an overview of the Field Guide. Dr. Alan Siegel, Medical Director at Social Prescribing USA, will moderate a discussion with panelists from New Jersey Performing Arts Center, CultureRx, and Project Jericho to share practical strategies and resources for implementing arts on prescription programs. Connect with a diverse network of professionals and newcomers interested in social prescribing in the US and learn how arts on prescription programs support health, wellbeing, and quality of life.

Kinetic Light Lab Hangout

Friday, Feb. 16, 2 - 3:30pm ET, on Zoom

Hangouts are hosted as an open-structured virtual social space for disabled artists to connect and get to know one another. Hangouts offer space to talk about disability, art making, creative practices, life hacks and tips, dreams, desires, disability wisdom, and more. You’re welcome to bring ideas for conversation or a bit of art that inspires you. LAB Producers, morgaine and Camisha, will loosely guide the gathering, offering topics and questions as needed. Come meet and be with us!

DisLit Collective, a BIPOC disability led digital safe space and communal literary experience

Thursday, Feb. 15, 6 - 7:30pm ET, on Zoom

DisLit Collective is a digital safe space and communal literary experience for, and by, BIPOC folks with disabilities, as well as BIPOC caregivers of folks with disabilities. Our event offers a platform for voices that are often excluded and underrepresented. Whether you're seeking to be in community with BIPOC folks with disabilities and caregivers, a passionate reader, aspiring writer, or curious about literature, social justice and art, the DisLit Collective is the perfect opportunity to engage with new friends and express your creativity in a supportive space. Let's celebrate the power of storytelling and embrace the beauty of BIPOC voices together! This is an LGBTQ+ friendly space. Hate of any kind will not be tolerated. Join us every third Thursday of each month for an immersive experience featuring interactive storytelling, live journaling, and experiential narrative and art. Closed captioning will be available during the session. Please let us know if you need accommodations when completing the registration form. Hosted By: Cre8tive Cadence.

There’s a tilted horizon and thin lines that shoot out from a vanishing point like a sunset (the usual Crip News header) except the colors are inverted and it’s a black background with white lines, like nighttime. Big text floats over the land-line: INTENSITIES BELOW. Smaller text under: we could breathe, hold the breath and let it out slow, mist the plants, or notice a sensation, get water, leave the screen entirely, nap

Rest in Power, Izzy

Description by Dove: graphic post with an azure blue wheat paste textured background. There’s a semi-transparent photograph centered of Izzy New, a multiracial Asian queer femme person with her long hair tied back, holding a large quilted bear pattern up with an outstretched arm up to her nose, and wearing a black face mask. Overtop of this photo is a semi-transparent olive text box with rounded edges, and pale orange text inside shifting to lighter tones as the text falls overtop of the photo of Izzy. The text reads : WITH MOURNFUL HEARTS, SIQ SHARES THE LOSS OF OUR BELOVED COMRADE AND FRIEND IZZY. IZZY LENT HER HEART TO THE PRACTICES OF CARE AND COMMUNITY WITH A SWEETNESS THAT WILL BE MISSED. [space, new paragraph] EVEN WHEN OUR MINDS DON’T ALLOW US TO RECALL OUR BEAUTIFUL PAST WITH IZZY, WE WILL ALWAYS SAVE PIECES OF HER SO THAT SHE IS NEVER FORGOTTEN. SHE WAS OUR TIME KEEPER WHO IS STILL KEEPING TIME. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF US THAT WILL LIVE IN THE MOMENTS SHE WAS HERE. [space, new paragraph against background, chartreuse green] AS WE ARE ADJUSTING TO MOURNING WE HOPE TO RECEIVE TIME, PATIENCE, AND UNDERSTANDING FROM OUR COMMUNITY & COMRADES [end text]. Scattered across the graphic are small artist details, like a single red pump heel, a checkered pink quilt square, and sweeping pink stars.

Sick in Quarters (SiQ) recently announced the loss of comrade and friend Izzy. SiQ will share more about ways to memorialize Izzy, with remote participation options.