The people who live here care a great deal about their home’s appearance. There were constant improvements as I practiced my walking. One bright blue day I chose this address as my subject, plopped down on the corner and began to draw. About half way through, the residents came out, got in their car, pulled out of the gravel driveway and parked the car between me and the building. Curious. I tried to eat out at a restaurant. We met friends at a place that advertised a large outdoor eating space. I called ahead, made sure their outside space was handicap accessible and was ensured it was. Have you ever rolled a wheelchair, bike or stroller through pea gravel? Pea gravel is not accessible.
Additional information
Dimensions
26 × 26 in
Artist Name: Amber Nicole Cannan
Medium: Gravel, Acrylic Paint, Watercolor
Artist Statement:
The Covid pandemic showed us that creativity is difficult to near impossible to foster when physical safety is questionable. So many set out to make, to build and craft but discovered despite their sudden extra supply of time due to lockdowns, that they could not. People who have disabilities have known this for a very long time. We must fight for our over-full designated parking spaces, codified access to sidewalks, food labeling at social events and the need to be included in conversation. My major debut into this world was a shock and the help I asked for from civic institutions such as parking enforcement and police was not delivered. Store managers said that people without handicap tags using disability designated spaces “wasn’t a priority.” I wasn’t able to enter many businesses downtown because the doors swing outwards and have no doorbell. Friends would talk over me when I was in a wheelchair during standing conversations. These things left me in tears on a regular basis. Those with power are given responsibility, and sometimes that power is having a non-disabled body. Society cuts at those with disability, draining energy just as much as the physical pain and extra time it takes to experience life this way. Covid is a mass-disabling event we are just beginning to come to terms with. What will you do about it?
