ArtPrize Entry Created by Local Teachers Spreading Awareness

Right now in downtown Grand Rapids there is an ArtPrize entry that was created by three student teachers and one professor titled Reframing Disabilities. While initially this may seem like just another ArtPrize entry there is something special and unique about this one. It's geared toward children and is completely interactive. It only made sense for us to create this entry as something that can be touched and felt, not just seen when doing a piece that is encompassing all disabilities. 

This entry is a five panel, mixed media piece that incorporates communication, mobility, and sensory differences and abilities in individuals with disabilities. So far we have gotten great feedback from the general public. The coolest thing about it for us so far has been hearing the viewers' stories. One mother who has a son with autism looked at the entire piece for about 10 minutes and walked away in tears. At first this disappointed us because our intention was not to make people sad. After we later talked to her she described how she had never seen her son reflected in such a positive way. It was exciting for us to know that even if just for these three weeks she could feel like her son had a place in this world. 

Reframing Disabilities is located right outside the Eberhard Center of GVSU's campus on the west end of the blue foot bridge. We hope to change how the general public views disabilities and the negative stigma behind the word. We want people to not only rethink the term and the people associated with it, but to look into themselves as well, recognizing that we are all more alike than we have been taught to believe.

http://www.facebook.com/reframingdisabilities

http://reframingdisabilities.wordpress.com/