A Picture of Health

A Picture of Health: Jo Spence, a Politics of Disability and Illness, is a multi-pronged project based on the work of UK photographer Jo Spence (1934-1992), and what curators Kenny Fries and Elisabeth Frost view as her influence and legacy on Disability Arts.

The project includes an online exhibit featuring the work of Jo Spence and artists and writers whose practices have an affinity with Spence. The artists and writers featured: (in alphabetical order): Navild Acosta and Fannie Sosa, Ezra Benus, Anne Boyer, Pelenakeke Brown, Yvonne Buchheim, Mary Cappello, Andrea Gibson, Suleika Joaud, Carolyn Lazard, Audre Lorde, Guadalupe Maravilla, Naomi Ortiz, Alicia Ostriker, Perel, Joey Solomon, Stephen L. Starkman, Simon Watney, and Alice Wong, In addition, there is information on the Cancer Care Collective.

As part of the project, there will be an online speaker series with Yvonne Buchheim (October 2); Pelenakeke Brown (October 23), and Simon Watney (November 15). The series will be recorded and eventually available on the exhibit website.

Jo Spence
In collaboration with Rosy Martin, Maggie Murray and Terry Dennett
The Picture of Health?
1982
Gelatin silver print photograph, C-Print and laminated press cuttings
54 elements of various dimensions
MACBA Collection. MACBA Foundation. Work purchased thanks to Banco Sabadell Foundation
© Jo Spence Memorial Archive, The Image Centre.

A Picture of Health: Jo Spence, a Politics of Disability and Illness is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and Fordham University.