The Power of Disability Part 3 — with Carmen Papalia (video)

Abstract

Carmen Papalia is a social practice artist who makes participatory projects on the topic of access as it relates to public space, art institutions and visual culture. His work has been featured as part of exhibitions and engagements at the Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, National Art Gallery, Banff Centre, Vancouver Art Gallery, Gallery Gachet and the Tate Liverpool.  Carmen has received many awards for his work including the Adam Reynolds Memorial Bursary and the Wynn Newhouse Award. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University, Vancouver and a Master of Fine Arts from Portland State University. His current work includes a movement building campaign for Open Access. One of the tenets of Open Access is, “Open Access interrupts the disabling power structures that limit one’s agency and potential to thrive.” Accessibility isn’t relevant only to people with disabilities, Papalia says, “it is an affirmation of mutual trust.” Along with his collaborator mia susan amir, they have created the The Open Access Foundation for Arts and Culture