Disability Futures in the Arts
“Disability Arts does not have a received canon. . . .This series will look at who and what disabled artists themselves look to, thus creating a legacy.”
"Disability Futures in the Arts," is a series of essays curated, edited, and introduced by Kenny. From 2020 - 2023, Wordgathering published 15 essays by disabled writers and artists working in different media.
The first cohort includes essays by Chun-shan (Sandie) Yi, Travis Chi Wing Lau, Sandra Alland, Jerron Herman, and Noa Winter. Read and/or listen to the first cohort of essays and Kenny's series introduction here.
The second cohort includes essays by Pelenakeke Brown, Calvin Seretle Ratladi, Elsa Sjunneson, Syrus Marcus Ware, and Meg Day. Read and/or listen to the second cohort of essays and Kenny's introduction to the cohort here.
The third and final cohort includes essays by Emilie Louise Gossiaux, TJ Cuthand, Carolina Teixeira, Hana Madness, and a jointly written essay by Stephanie Alme and Tommy Carroll. Read and or listen to the third cohort of essays and Kenny’s introduction to the cohort here.
The entire series can be read and/or listened to here.
“This cohort makes inclusion, as it is usually understood, obsolete.”
“. . . each essay tells a personal story but . . . also connects one’s body with the world in which our bodies live. As these essays attest, though there are challenges presented by our disabled bodies, what most challenges us as disabled artists and writers is the societies in which we live.”
“Disability Futures in the Arts” is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts:
