Celebrating the long history of Deaf and disability art, connecting living international artists with their chosen ancestors. Curated by Alex Bulmer.
Deaf and disabled people worldwide have a long history of artistic expression.
Still, Deaf and disability art is relatively unknown or is perceived as an innovation to established forms.
Not Born Yesterday, Not Going Away celebrates the long history of Deaf and disability art, connecting living artists with their chosen ancestors. It aims to create across time, honoring those who have shaped our present and moving forward with a strong sense of collective history.
Icelandic artist Erla Björk Sigmundsdóttir's work will be featured, and her artistic ancestor honored is American neurodivergent artist John Hiltunen.
Erla Björk Sigmundsdóttir is a visual artist born in 1973 in Iceland. She lives and works in Sólheimar, an eco-village in the south of Iceland. She is a versatile and creative artist who expresses herself uniquely through various art forms, including visual arts, dance, and music. Sigmundsdóttir’s embroidery art has received much recognition, and she has taken part in many art exhibitions both in Iceland and abroad. In 2016, Sigmundsdóttir was chosen the Artist of the Year at the Icelandic art festival Art Without Borders.
Not Born Yesterday, Not Going Away is free and open to the public. Art will be in display cases inside the main building along the west corridor.
- Wheelchair accessible
- Audio Description, including the artist bio, artist statement, and image description, will be available on-site via QR code. Volunteers will be available to assist with QR code access during building hours. A smartphone and headphones are required for QR code scanning. A limited number of devices will be available for guests to borrow if needed.
- A braille book will be available with information about the exhibition. Braille books and borrowed equipment for Audio Description access can be picked up at the information desk in the main building lobby during gallery hours.
This event is a Nordic Spotlight, part of Nordic Bridges.
Images from List án landamæra (L to R) Erla Björk Sigmundsdóttir, knit art from Erla, Erla playing the harp.