Crip News v.141
Justin Cooper, anniversaries, new works, new honors, calls, and lots of events.
NEWS
Rest in Power, Justin Cooper
Justin Cooper, a major figure in Chicago’s disability arts scene, joined the ancestors on July 9, 2024. Hailing from a family of activists, Justin was an immense force for good at Access Living, several of Chicago’s disability culture groups, the Chicago Disability Pride Parade where he was honored with the Van Hyck Award this past weekend, and many more places chronicled by his Crip Crap Media collaborator Kennedy Healy. His artistry is in the collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and his organizing helped secure the passage of the Community Emergency Services and Supports Act (CESSA) in 2021.
Justin’s funeral will take place on Monday, July 29 at 10am CT at Leak & Sons Funeral Homes (7838 S Cottage Grove Ave in Chicago) and on Zoom.
PLEASE HELP by contributing to a fundraiser in his memory to cover funeral, burial, and other end of life and memorial costs.
This Week’s Anniversaries
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) turns 34 years old on Friday, July 26.
New York State’s adoption of the Dynamic Accessibility Symbol turns 10 years old on Thursday, July 25.
The ADA Legacy Tour Bus turns 10 years old this month.
New Works
Leah Piepzna-Samarasinha has published some ideas and reflections for a revision of their half assed disabled prepper guide from 2020 on their postcards from the end of the world Substack.
StaceyFest, a “new disability justice culture festival and an opportunity to celebrate the memory and ongoing legacy of renowned disability justice advocate Stacey Park Milbern,” took place in Oakland, CA this past weekend.
In metropolis m, art worker Beatrice Cera chronicles a recent workshop in Islands of Kinship’s project “Language Matters” that brought together six art institutions in Europe to explore accessible and inclusive communication.
As part of a global sex special series in The Guardian, disabled woman Susan and support worker Samuel explain how accessible sex work works in Australia.
Grace Benjamin, Blue Moon (2021) The Kennedy Center’s Access/VSA program in Washington D.C. is hosting Interchange, an exhibition of 15 young disabled artists. On view through July 28.
Researchers recently published “Disability rights and experiential use of psychedelics in clinical research and practice” in Nature’s npj Mental Health Research.
The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has released new data about disabled workers showing staggering increases in disabilities among the workforce.
Other new data from Mercer and Global Disability Inclusion show that more than half of workers’ disabilities are related to mental health.
New Honors
The 2024 Disability Futures Fellowships, a partnership between the Ford and Mellon Foundations and administered by United States Artists “to spotlight the work of disabled creatives across disciplines and geography and amplify their voices individually and collectively,” have been announced.
Disabled artist Petra Kuppers is among the Social Science Research Council’s 2024 - 2026 Just Tech Fellows.
CALLS
STOP THE MASK BANS. Covid Advocacy NYC created this toolkit, organizers in LA created this toolkit, and author Judy Stone has compiled this list of places across the US that are promoting bans on masking.
HEARD is raising money for its Reentry Support Program for formerly incarcerated deaf/disabled community members. Donate here.
Disabled organizer Jermaine Greaves needs support for a new wheelchair and several other fundraising goals. Check out @BlackDisabledLivesMatter to donate.
Sins Invalid is seeking a Development Director. Apply by July 31. More here.
EVENTS
Sonic Bathhouse with JJJJJerome Ellis
Friday, July 26, 5:30 - 9:30pm ET, in-person at The Whitney Museum (NYC)
Join 2024 Biennial artist JJJJJerome Ellis for a contemplative drop-in concert of digital soundscapes, hammered dulcimer hymns, and cascading saxophone melodies. With this music, the artist creates space for slowing down.
Also at The Whitney: Celebration of Disability Pride
Saturday, July 27, 4 - 6:30pm ET
Join us for an afternoon of performances in celebration of Disability Pride Month with 2024 Biennial artist JJJJJerome Ellis and SPACE, an organization that serves people who stutter through arts, education, and advocacy.
Disability Portrait Day
Saturday, July 27, 12 – 4pm PT, in-person at SFMOMA (San Francisco)
The disability community is invited to SFMOMA’s first Disability Portrait Day! Come with your friends, family, and service animals and sign up for a sitting with disabled photographer Mia Charnelle. A selfie station will also be available for additional chances to strike a pose! All participants will receive free admission to the museum and are encouraged to check out the exhibitions, especially Creative Growth: The House That Art Built, featuring the work of disabled artists. This program was organized in partnership with the Longmore Institute, the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center, and the Disability Visibility Project. In the words of artist, writer, disability rights activist, and event collaborator Alice Wong, “Disability Portrait Day celebrates our culture by documenting who we are, as we are.”
Disability Pride, Disability Joy, Exist
Thursday, July 25, 6 - 7pm ET, in-person at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (NYC)
Join this art-making program that celebrates disability as an integral part of human diversity. Led by Annie Nishwani Lachhman, a disabled artist, and Lakshmee Lachhman-Persad, an educator on disability inclusion and accessibility, the workshop invites participants of all ages and backgrounds to learn about the progressive Disability Pride flags, explore various aspects of disability, and create their own art, fostering inclusivity, understanding, and empowerment. Free with Garden admission.
Disability Art Chats: Crip Pride with Riva Lehrer
Wednesday, July 24, 6 – 7:30pm ET, online
Please join MoMA for Disability Art Chats, a community space for folks who identify as disabled, crip, MAD, and/or C/S/X, and those allied with the principles of disability justice. During this free, 90-minute online program, we use a crip perspective to unearth fresh interpretations of MoMA’s collection and foster friendship through creative discussion. No specialized understanding of art, art history, or crip theory is required. In July, we will be in conversation with Riva Lehrer. We’ll explore the many layers of representation, and what it means to have the disabled body visible in art and in art institutions like MoMA. Riva will pose the question, “What is it we dream of when we say we want to see our bodies in the Museum?” Together we will explore works from MoMA’s collection chosen by Riva, as well as some proposed by you. Using the Google form sent in the registration confirmation email, we invite you to suggest an artwork that makes you feel represented.
Rescheduled: Kinetic Light at Poster House
Friday, July 26, 6:30 - 8pm ET
Join us for a disability arts performance in celebration of Disability Pride Month and July 26, the day the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law 34 years ago. Poster House is delighted to welcome the disability arts ensemble Kinetic Light. Alice Sheppard and Laurel Lawson from Kinetic Light will be presenting a work-in-progress excerpt from their newest dance work, The Next T.i.M.es, and additional Kinetic Light works.
Feisty Disabled Artists Cabaret
Wednesday, July 24, 7pm ET, in-person at Joe’s Pub (NYC)
Feisty Disabled Artists is a disabled cabaret which builds on the work of shows like How to Dance in Ohio and Ryan J. Haddad’s Dark Disabled Stories by not only increasing representation of and accessibility for disabled theater artists and audiences, but by embracing the creatively generative potential of disability artistry. In the spirit of disability activist Judy Heumann, this show acts as an opportunity to build a disability community and strengthen the networks that will bring disability justice to the theater industry. The evening, which aims to showcase disabled artists, will prioritize accessibility through offering ASL interpretation, visual description, large print signage, and a wheelchair accessible space. In addition to the in-person gathering, the event will also be live streamed.
SAD Zine + Craft Fair
Through Saturday, July 27, on Zoom
The Sick And Disabled Zine & Craft Fair (SAD Fair) is a grassroots week-long virtual craft fair centering disabled, chronically ill, Mad, and neurodivergent zinesters and artists from around the world. Now in its 5th year, this access-centered craft fair will feature free live events, workshops, virtual "tables", and a virtual sensory room. This event is open to ALL! Allies are welcomed and encouraged to attend!
PROMENADE DE JUDY
Saturday, July 27, 2 - 4pm ET, in-person at Plaza Saint-Hubert (Montreal)
ONCE A MONTH during the summer, we’ll roll and walk together on Montreal’s famous pedestrian streets, creating fun and visibility. This celebratory event is named in honour of JUDY HEUMANN, the great activist and advocate for disability rights. It’s our way of reappropriating our city for people with disabilities, Deaf people, Blind people, neurodiverse people and others with reduced mobility. The second Promenade of the 2024 season will take us to Plaza Saint-Hubert on Saturday, July 27! We’ll meet up at the corner of the Plaza and Jean-Talon St. East, and then head south to Bellechasse St. From there, the accessible metro station Rosemont is about 10 minutes away on foot.