BOOK CLUB
BOOK CLUB
OUR JANUARY PICK
The Agency of Access: Contemporary Disability Art & Institutional Critique
The Agency of Access examines how access can be employed as a methodology for curating art exhibitions using a multi-sensorial approach. Crip curator and art historian Amanda Cachia illustrates how bodies take in information and process stimuli, making the inequities in museums and galleries more transparent. She also argues that, as contemporary disabled artists move away from representations of disability, they create an art of access, or access aesthetics, through works that center translation, sensory expansion, touch, and movement for audiences and offer an experience of "being with" disability.
Showcasing artwork by contemporary disabled artists Corban Walker, Christine Sun Kim, and Carmen Papalia, among others, The Agency of Access inscribes contemporary disability art in the broad canon of contemporary art, where the artistic past is regarded differently.
Cachia is an outspoken advocate for artists living with sensory disabilities. She understands disabled artists' experiences in both the world and the gallery. The artists she has curated make bold, astonishing, and compelling statements about interdependency, care, and the ways in which our environment affects disabled, ill, and immunocompromised bodies.
Author: Amanda Cachia
Why a Book Club?
Welcome to the Art Districts Book Club! Our literary community is dedicated to providing a carefully curated selection of monthly reads, all centered on the vibrant world of the arts and the creative spirits who inhabit it. We aim to offer our members a diverse and enriching reading journey through the captivating realms of artistic expression.
Our mission is to celebrate the intersection of literature and art, showcasing works that delve into the creative process, explore the lives of artists, or offer insights into the business and culture surrounding artistry. Whether it's a museum or gallery catalogue, a novel featuring an artist protagonist, or educational texts on the business of art, our curated selections are designed to ignite passion and spark meaningful conversations within our community.
In partnership with Bookshop, we've established our very own curated online bookstore, providing members with convenient access to our handpicked recommendations. Every purchase made through our online shop not only enriches your personal library but also supports independent bookstores, fostering a thriving ecosystem for literature and art alike.