Untitiled by Taryn Green, (Quote from Barbara Kingsolver's novel The Poisonwood Bible.)
En-vi-sion: To picture in the mind; imagine what’s possible.
Over the past two years, women living with disabilities and physical differences have taken part in “Envisioning New Meanings of Disability and Difference,” a series of arts-based workshops across Ontario that use the power of image and story to transform the way people see difference.
Workshop activities and discussions explored identity and the meaning we find in our experiences. Photography workshops put cameras in the hands of the participants, who used them as tools to create self-portraits – both literal and symbolic. These women also had the opportunity to make their own digital story to capture their perspective on life with a disability or difference.
The artwork created formed a dynamic multimedia exhibit. The Envisioning Exhibit, shown in Toronto this past February, will tour the province throughout 2009.
By crafting and sharing their art, the women who participated in this project use the power of image to communicate their life experiences, expertise and creativity. The images and stories also ask others to explore their own responses to diverse
bodies and appearances.
“Our personal and collective stories have the power to change the way people view and understand disability and difference,” says Dr. Carla Rice, clinical specialist on body image and a professor at Trent University in Peterborough, Ont. “Through the Envisioning project, women have the chance to combat misperceptions of disability and difference on their own terms.”
Women living with disabilities and physical differences have many roles in life. We are mothers, daughters, sisters, lovers. We are women with a vast range of abilities, talents and experiences. Yet all too often, we are seen only within the narrow confines of two common stereotypes: the tragic, pitied victim, or the spirited survivor lauded as a source of inspiration. As a result, women with disabilities and differences often find that these representations do not embody their own experiences.
“Disability and difference is often misrepresented, under-represented, or not represented at all in conventional discussions and imagery,” says Jes Sachse, one of the project participants. “I am proud that this project not only speaks to these issues, but also provides women with disabilities the opportunity to do the speaking.”
Widespread stereotypes and a lack of disability-positive imagery make it difficult for women with body differences to develop or maintain a positive sense of self. Compounding this is the pervasive nature of idealized images that are problematic for all women, whether or not they have a disability or difference.
Confronting these conventional views, project participants created images of disability and difference that challenge the viewer to question the “less than” or “better than” judgments made regarding physical appearance.
“It is powerful to share stories with other women,” says Lindsay Fisher, who took part in the photography and digital storytelling workshops. “I am proud that this project includes a variety of experiences, and explores alternative ideas of
disability and difference.”
The project's partners include the
YWCA of Peterborough, Victoria and Haliburton;
YWCA of Sudbury;
Women with Disabilities and Deaf Women's Program at Springtide Resources;
Women's College Research Institute at Women"s College Hospital;
Women"s Studies Program at Trent University;
With the generous financial support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Canadian Women's Foundation and the Government of Ontario (Ontario Women's Directorate).
Through making the digital stories and taking photographs, women had the opportunity to search and probe cultural meanings related to our bodies that position us as "other" in daily social interactions. For some, this meant challenging our own self-perceptions of body and appearance, and re-visioning meanings of our experiences. The groups also built a sense of commonality and community.
Jes adds, "The workshop really had an impact on me - the little pains and graces the group shared during our five days together. I got to know some amazing women who have all had to negotiate their lives in different ways."
The digital stories and photographs created by the participants are relevant to everyone. They encourage us to accept and love our own bodies and selves, and celebrate the self-expression and accomplishments of women living with disabilities and physical differences.
The Envisioning Exhibit is made up of many stories, and features many voices. Life is a journey for each of us, whether we have a disability or physical difference, or not. Life is about embracing a range of experiences.
Imagine: women sharing photos, stories, shifting away from stereotypes. Imagine the myriad ways we all share what it is to be wholly human. Imagine our infinite connections to each other.
Imagine the possibilities.