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Wheels of Justice: The Photography of Tom Olin
July 16 - August 16 Opening Reception on Friday, July 16th 5-7pm
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, VSA Alaska at Out North has partnered withAccess Alaska to bring the stunning photography of Tom Olin to Anchorage.
Tom Olin, Director of the Disability Rights Center, is a socio-documentarian. He is currently working on the Disability Rights photo archive project, central to which are his photographs.
Photos in mainstream media depict the "plight" of the disabled; they are images of pity, heroics, and medical advancements, reinforcing the public perception that disability is negative, pitiful, abnormal, a fate worse than death. By contrast, Olin’s photographs provide a pictorial history of the struggle for civil rights for people with disabilities, in images of power, strength, determination, and passion.
The exhibition at Out North is mounted at wheelchair height, to honor the vision and perspective of the activists portrayed in the photos. Wheelchairs will be provided for people who do not use them.
If you're confused about why Out North has this "VSA Alaska" term in our title, use this anniversary to check out just how we're working to include all people, no exceptions, as a member of VSA: The International Organization on Arts and Disability.
