Peer Review: How should we do it?

Dear readers,

There is only a few weeks before my grant deadline.  I have been writing on all of the 5 chapters over the past 9 months, and now I feel it is time to share.  But I am unsure how to do it.  This is a working manuscript, so editing will still be needed. I want to get some feedback to better shape the work, and to be sure it reflects a plausible view of the topics I have covered.

So, I am writing to ask you all how you might like to interact with it. Should I place my writing in the blog roll with all the other posts?  Alternatively, should I make separate pages for each chapter?

The first piece that I will have to post is chapter 5 (the last chapter).  It is at the editor as of 7 a.m. FYI the endnotes will not be ready for posting when the writing will be.  It is a long one at 39 pages.

In fulfillment of the RACC grant that is funding this writing, and a universally designed book layout, I must post here in someway.  But I would like it to be in a way that you all can interact with it best. I hope to insert a little democracy into the making of this book. Should I only post parts of it, or all of it?  And here is a heads up, I will take down the old drafts as needed and delete comments about old drafts, so please keep this in mind as you suggest your ideas.

I look forward to reading your thoughts in the comments!

Thank you all so much for your support.

Warmly,

Catherine J. H. Miller

Event: Manuscript Reading and Lecture

A Somewhat Secret Place: Disability and Art 

Manuscript Reading and Lecture

By Catherine J. H. Miller

On June 25, 2013 the artist Catherine J. H. Miller will read from her manuscript and lecture on her new book’s universally-designed layout.  This project was funded in part through the generous support of a Regional Art and Culture Council (RACC) 2012 Project Grant to Individuals award.  Miller’s writing charts the provocative crossroads of disability and the fine arts.  She writes on works made by people with and without disabilities in fine art, literature and performance, suggesting new ways for us to understand the aura of disability in art and how to talk about it from her perspective as a legally blind artist.  Her book holds the potential to create a lasting impact on how art is presented in the gallery and in publications.  In her research she has raised awareness for access with organizations such as the Community Foundation Sonoma County, Oliver Ranch Foundation, Oregon Women’s Causes for Art (OWCA), Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA), PRESENTspace and RACC, the effect of which is only beginning to be realized.

Event: A Somewhat Secret Place: Disability and Art Manuscript Reading and Lecture by Catherine J. H. Miller

Where: Jack London Bar (in Rialto) 529 SW 4th Ave. , Portland, OR 97204

When: Tuesday, June 25, 2013.  Doors at 5 p.m.  Lecture 6 -7 p.m.

Please note: Must be 21 or older. Accessible lift located in Rialto Off-Track Betting Bar.  Please arrive early, as the lift may have a line.  ASL provided.

Miller’s project, A Somewhat Secret Place: Disability and Art, an exhibition (A Somewhat Secret Place) and book project, has spanned three years involving countless organizations and individual collaborators.  Miller points to the exhibition A Somewhat Secret Place as her manuscript’s primary case study.  The show took place in the Portland Pearl District from July 7- 30, 2011 in partnership with the OWCA and PRESENTspace Gallery.  Miller made changes to the architecture of the gallery, used ASL interpreters, Braille, enlarged print, and atypical display strategies to make an art show and performance venue which was previously inaccessible accessible for the first time.

The show featured 28 works of art including paintings, sculpture, literature and performance created by 21 artists, writers and performers with and without disabilities.  The show featured ten events: a donor preview, First Thursday, writer’s workshop, opening reception with literary readings and a performance by Yulia Arakelyn, 3 artist talks (by Andrea Rosselle, Carmen Papalia and Erik Ferguson), ADA 21^st birthday party and panel discussion, a story telling by the artist Joy Corcoran for young children, and a closing reception with literary readings and a performance by singer song writer Elie Charpentier.

Miller speaks with a passion and enthusiasm that is infectious.  Miller says, “The book and the exhibition are not a product, or art object, of my project.  The real product or ‘art part’ is something less tangible and more powerful.  The ‘art’ is the conversation that the visitors and readers have in the gallery and beyond.  It is the interaction between the arts communities, the disability communities, and the wider community around words like ‘disability in the arts ’, ‘disability art’, disability aesthetics, ‘disability pride art’, and un-named areas of artistic practice.”
Miller was born legally blind in Portland where she has lived her whole life.  She graduated from the PNCA class of 2008.  Currently, she presides as President and PR Secretary of the OWCA.

A special thanks to RACC.

ADA 21st Birthday Party

Dear Friends.

Thank you to the Riot! for organizing this super fun event that took place Tuesday July 26th.  It was so fun working with Yoshi and Jamie. We had about 30 people attend, ate cake, drank

bubbly and enjoyed a wonderful discussion guided by John Agusta.

I received this picture from our raffle winner, Serenity Ebert (left) who won the ADA symbol piñata I made only hours before the event.

Thanks,

Catherine J. H. Miller

Image caption: Serenity Ebert (left) Catherine J. H. Miller (right)

Next Event! Free and for Kids! 7/30 Noon-2

WHAT COLOR IS YOUR DRAGON?: STORIES AND ART FOR CHILDREN EXPLORING VARIETY

By Joy Cocoran, Photography by Jim HIll

Saturday July 30, at noon, artist and storyteller Joy Corcoran will engage children in the art of storytelling and the stories we can find in art.   “Feeding Your Dragon” uses fantasy to explore human variation through the use of sight, sound, touch, and imagination.  Joy will encourage children to have conversation about disability as difference, and how to feed the dragon we call fear inside of all of us.  Children will experience a variety of communication styles, including American Sign Language (ASL) and braille. Children will be allowed to touch Joy’s fabric sculpture called Shared Vision — a blind goddess, Iris, and her seeing-eye dragon, Aurora. This is a part of A Somewhat Secret Place: Disability and Art which takes place at PRESENTspace Gallery at 939 NW Glisan.

Children accompanied by an adult are welcome.  Cookies and tea and soy, rice and almond milks will be served.

– Joy Corcoran
http://joycorcoranstudio.com

Gallery Hours on July 26th

3:30-6

Tonight we have an event in the gallery from 7-9.

Please join us on Tuesday, July 26th from 7-9 to celebrate the 21st Birthday of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as part of A Somewhat Secret Place exhibit. Spotlight, in association with The Riot, is sponsoring the event, which will include a conversation centered on how the ADA law, universal design, inclusion and access impact the everyday lives of people with disabilities. Cake and beverages will also be served.

T…his is a ticketed event. Advance tickets are available, two for $8, by going to A Somewhat Secret Place Facebook page. The day of the event tickets will be two for $21, suggested donation.

Panelists:
Bob Joondeph – Executive Director, Disability Rights Oregon

Dean Westwood – Director, Center on Self-Determination at OHSU

Kristi Cule – Self-Advocate, member of the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities and Self Advocates as Leaders

Meghan Caughey – Artist, Senior Director of Peer and Wellness Services, Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare

Elesia Ashkenazy – Chapter and Outreach Coordinator, Autistic Self Advocacy Network

ASL interpretation will be available.

Ticket info:
( No one will be denied entrance for lack of ability to donate.)
Tickets at the door W/ FB RSVP BEFORE July 26th:
$8

Tickets at the door day of event:
$21

You can buy tickets at the gallery for $8 before July 26th.

Purchase(s) of tickets we considered donations. Donations for this event help us to afford the food and drink for this event.

Those who pledged to our Kickstarter at the $25 of more level will receive entrance w/ a +1, and no need to RSVP on FB.

Saturday July 23rd Change of Hours

Just for today our hours will be 11:00-4:30. See you Monday!

 

Designed by Jim Hill of Working Class Press

Andrea Rosselle: HEM ME IN

Artist Andrea Rosselle writes:

“Dear Friends:

This Thursday, July 14th  at 6:00, I will be giving an artist lecture as part of a group show I am in this summer. The show is called “A Somewhat Secret Place” and is currently at 939 NW Glisan in the Pearl District.

This show contains work by disabled and able-bodied individuals whose work deals with issues of disability. The show hopes to bring about conversations surrounding the role of the disabled in the art community.

My current work explores the imposition of the medical object, and experience as a medical body, upon the daily act of living. My artist lecture, Hem Me In, will be a dialogue about the medicalization of the human body within visual culture, and the role of the body as a medical object.

The show is in PRESENTspace, which is a “pop-up” gallery; a gallery which occupies unused spaces around the city. 939 is a commercial space, so don’t be fooled if you come to the address and find an alternative space- we are there just find the right door! 939 (next to 937 whose number is prominently displayed) is on the corner of Glisan and 10th.

Have a wonderful week! –Andrea Rosselle

*There will be an ASL interpreter. Please avoid bringing scented items into the space. “

KICKSTARTER BACKER ACTION NEEDED IMMEDIATELY

We did not reach our Kickstarter fund raising  goal, and that means no money for our show:(

So we have created a new Kickstarter!!! Our new goal is $1,800, which is the minimum amount we need to cover the gallery rent. Our budgetary needs are much greater. This new Kickstarter goal does not cover insurance, printing, installation of show, catering, artist stipends, chair rentals, nor wages for staff.

If we do not reach our new goal we will not receive any of the pledged money, Kickstarter Backers will not be charged and we will not receive any money for our exhibition.

If you have pledged to our old Kickstarter we are requesting that you switch your pledge to our new Kickstarter:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/owca/a-somewhat-secret-place?ref=live

Thank you for your continued support and goodwill.

The artists, writers and performers of A Somewhat Secret Place

Who is to be represented at the exhibition?

Since this project began, this has been the question on everyone’s minds. Now we know!

Last night we held a fundraising event at my home and we announced those accepted to be in the show.

We are blessed to have the art of:  Andrea O. Rosselle, Carmen Papalia and A.J. Iving, David Kidd, Erik Ferguson, Evan Shefleck, Gavin Eveland, Gwenn Seemel, Heather Zinger, John Kelting,  Joy Corcoran, Molly Garmire, Pat Krishnamurthy.

During the nights of the 9^th and the 30^th we will enjoy the writing of: Arwen Bird, Carmen Papalia, Charles King, Howard Edelman,  Jody J. Ramey, Emilia Murry Ramey and Nathan Say. Writers will only read once, so please do keep up on the developments here and on our twitter and FB for the dates and titles of readings.

On the night (6-9pm) of the 9^th guests will enjoy a performance by Carmen Papalia and A.J. Iving and a dance performance by Yulia Arakelyan titled “My Birth Place: Part 1”. Yulia does not typically perform in art spaces so this is a unique setting for her dance.

During the night of the 30^th Elie Charpentier will not only perform the work accepted into the show, but she will play a full set. We hope that you will stop in for the music and stay for the art and conversation.