Can you tell which of these paintings were done by artists with disabilities? Me, neither.
The CPD is putting together a display on the history of disability in Utah, to be exhibited in the State Capitol during the upcoming legislative session.
We are now working on a plan to include art by people with disabilities in that display–which led to a breathtaking morning at the Art Access gallery in Salt Lake City. It’s an inclusive gallery, where works by artists with and without disabilities are displayed side by side.
“Our philosophy has always been, ‘Separate is not equal,’” said Sheryl Gillilan, the Art Access executive director. “Good art is good art.”
More art. It's for sale, too.
The next step is to compile a wish list of pieces we’d like to have on display with our posters. It will be hard to narrow down, but it’s a happy job. The paintings reflect Utah’s true diversity. This blog post comes with a hat-tip to Eric Mitchell and the Disability Law Center. They told me about this collection and dedicated a morning to showing me around.
This painting, Kindred Spirits, resides in the gallery's permanent collection.