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DHD Art Show

The DCC lounge is the proud home of the winning pieces from UIC's Department of Disability and Human Development 2020 undergraduate student art contest. Together, these pieces by Jordan Alcantar, Alkebuluan Merriweather, and Karla Velasco make up an exhibit called "Creating Disability Culture."

Karla Velasco, Selma Blair and Her Plus 1, Her Cane Heading link

Velasco art piece
Image description: On a lavender background, a dark-haired white woman is depicted in profile, with a blue cape floating out from her back. Her right arm is extended out in front of her, holding a black cane. Her body is painted mostly from the waist up, and her dress has a multi-colored bodice. Her left arm has been cut out of the image and her body below the waist is not painted, except for a vertical black shape that echoes her cane.

About the Piece

When I saw Selma Blair on the red carpet of the Oscars, I was so glad because I had not seen her in the public eye for many years. Then, I read her interview with Vanity Fair where she talked about her journey with Multiple Sclerosis–from doctors not believing her symptoms because she is an actress, to making it her goal to design and create accessible clothing for people with disabilities. In the same article, she said that she made it her goal to answer all messages on Instagram. So I messaged her, asking for her permission to be the subject of my art piece, and she said she would be honored. So, this one is for you, Selma.

Alkebuluan Merriweather, Raw Heading link

Merriweather art piece
Image description: The exhibit image shows the many squares that make up pages of Raw on a two-dimensional page, but this description will focus on the zine object. All images are black and white photographs of black individuals, unless otherwise noted.[Page 1] A nonbinary person whose head is bowed forward. Their brow is slightly furrowed, and their hair is done in braids with beads on the ends, which hang partially over their face. They are wearing a light colored jean jacket, which contrasts with the dark gray background. The word RAW appears at the top of the page.[Page 2 and 3] On the left, black text on a white background: “The pressure to carry the weight of my troubles weighs heavy on mind and soul.” On the right is a woman laying on the ground wrapped in a blanket, but the photo is positioned upright so her body is vertical. She has short, dark, curly hair and is wearing large earrings; her face and the comforter are bathed in a bright light. There is a deep shadow creating a head shape in black right next to her head, and the folds of the blanket are accentuated by shadow. The person looks up to the right, and her arm is resting across her body, with one hand peeking out at the left.[Page 4 and 5] Two photos with dramatic lighting, positioned so the brightest portions are at the corners, with dark areas where the photos meet. On the left, a woman is bending over a stuffed toy, pulling stuffing out of it. Three tufts of stuffing are on a table at her knees. She is wearing a gray t-shirt and black bottoms, and her hair is curly and gathered on top of her head. On the right is a nonbinary person wearing braids with beads on the end, seated with one knee bent up next to them. The photo is positioned along the zine fold so their body is horizontal. They are holding their hands together and extending them toward the viewer, their elbows anchored on their lap. The shadows in the image are deep; their expression is hard to make out, but their body is slightly hunched, and creases are visible under their eyes.[Page 6 and 7] On the left, a nonbinary person wearing braids is positioned very close to the fold, facing it. They are crying, and their brow is furrowed, with their mouth slightly open and their eyes looking up. They are holding their hands together under their chin, with their shoulders slightly hunched. They are wearing a jacket and their shadow is cast onto the wall behind them. On the opposite page is a black silhouette shape on a brightly lit background. Near the shadow’s neck and shoulder an arm shape is reaching across the shadow.[Page 8] Black text on a white background: “Sleep does not await me/ Marks of raw flesh/ are reminders/ Over time/ I can feel my demons/ gaining power //Alkebuluan Merriweather.”

About the Piece

Alkebuluan Merriweather (b.1997) is a Chicago-based artist specializing in analog photography. Alkebuluan has a background in Art History, specializing in architecture, social justice, and the Black Arts Movement . Alkebuluan uses analog photography to explore the  documentation and alternative themes. Her work often centers around black portraiture, street photography, and the built environment of the South Side of Chicago. Raw seeks to explore the complexities of mental health through the format of DIY culture and black and white photography. Raw focuses on the artist’s own relationship with navigating mental health as a black woman by documenting fellow black and non-binary people.  Raw focuses on themes of insomnia, depression, self-harm, and coming to terms with being a flawed being who is constantly evolving. This body of work is by no means necessary meant to glorify any of the topics mentioned above. But instead it is meant to offer comfort to black individuals, people of color, women, and anyone who has struggled with mental health as a millennial within our society.

Jordan Alcantar, Fatigue Heading link

Alcantar art piece
Image description: My art piece is both drawing and collage of pictures. The center is a bed with a wrinkled comforter and pillows, and a headboard. On the bed is a skeleton, laying down. Surrounding the bed are various objects including trash, stacks of papers, piles of clothes and shoes, and a Hot Cheetos bag. The bed, skeleton, and objects are in black and white , and a rainbow outline surrounds them. Outside the rainbow outline, there is a greyish background with four green vines with black thorns on each corner. At the top and bottom of the page, a spoon in black and white floats horizontally.  

About the Piece

I was inspired by my long history of fatigue related to my multiple psychiatric disabilities. Growing up, and even to this day, I was often called lazy by many people for wanting to listen to my body. I represented myself as a skeleton to depict the almost death I feel sometimes not being able to get out of bed or other places of rest. I wanted to be real about what it looks like, so I added the piles of clothes and trash because that is often what happens in my room. I also wanted a rainbow to represent how I started to see this through a more positive light: I am not lazy, but I am finally listening to my body more to take care of myself. I also call myself a spoonie, a sub-culture within the disability community, which is why there are floating spoons.

DHD Art Show Exhibit Heading link

  1. DHD Art Show exhibit sign
    Image description: A sign with black lettering on white paper mounted on a white cinder block wall. Text reads: "Creating Disability Culture. The Department of Disability and Human Development held an art contest with the theme Creating Disability Culture. The contest was open to DHD majors, minors, and any undergraduate student enrolled in a DHD course. Featured here are art pieces from the three contest winners. Thank you to Jordan Alcantar, Alkebuluan Merriweather, and Karla Velasco for sharing their incredible work."
  2. DHD Art Show exhibits displayed in the DCC lounge
    Image description: A wide shot of the DCC lounge shows the three winning DHD art show pieces, in black frames, displayed on the white cinder block walls of the DCC lounge. Next to each framed art piece are object labels. In the corner of the room is a floor lamp and a small grey table. On the table is a DHD Art Show exhibit listening station (an open laptop connected to a pair of large black headphones).
  3. DHD Art Show audio description listening station and zines
    Image description: DHD art show audio description listening station. On a grey table sits a transparent display case with small copies of the zine. Also on the table sits an open laptop connected to a pair of large black headphones for listening to audio descriptions of the art pieces.