Exhibit Featuring Work of Disabled Artists On Display in Grand Rapids
Julie Bitely
| 2 min read
Although the first annual Grand Rapids’ DisArt Festival has come and gone, an exhibit the fest brought to town will be on display through July.
“Art of the Lived Experiment” made its U.S. premiere in Grand Rapids during DisArt, which took place in April. The exhibition features the work of more than 19 internationally renowned disability artists, including sculptor Tony Heaton.
The exhibit was originally part of DaDa Fest in Liverpool, England. Locally organized by the Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts (UICA), the show is on display at the UICA, the Fed Galleries at Kendall College of Art and Design, and the Grand Rapids Art Museum through July 31.
“The exhibition addresses the idea that both art and life are in a state of continual change and uncertainty,” according to DaDa Fest’s website. “Its starting point is the practice of alchemy, taking its magical, transformative and experimental associations as a template with which to consider practices employed by contemporary artists.”
The inaugural DisArt Festival opened up opportunities for artists with disabilities to present their work and challenged the local community to overcome prejudice. Marylu Dykstra is the program director at Disability Advocates of Kent County. She displayed artwork during the DisArt Festival and said the international exhibition was a coup for Grand Rapids.
“We’re really fortunate to have a really large installation,” she said.
Watch Dykstra talk about her art in this video:
Make sure to check out the “Art of the Lived Experiment” exhibit before it’s gone.
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