How queer disabled artists are maintaining community during COVID-19

From crafting nights to play parties, these artists are getting creative


During these chaotic times, it can be difficult to stay connected to your communities while in isolation. But if there is anything that disabled artists are familiar with, it’s how to survive social isolation.

Here are five disabled artists who are keeping their community together and helping us find healing through creativity.

Challenge yourself with Sticky Mangos

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Queerantine Art Challenge aka #QueerantineAC I made an art prompt challenge for fellow creative queers in isolation from social distancing. Here are the prompts for the next 2 weeks 🙂 Mar 17 love Mar 18 magic Mar 19 hair Mar 20 care Mar 21 food Mar 22 self portrait Mar 23 identities Mar 24 cry Mar 25 wave Mar 26 animal Mar 27 gender Mar 28 stretch Mar 29 shadow Mar 30 rest Use the hashtags for community to see your posts: #QueerantineAC #StickyMangosAC Tag me so I can reshare your work: @stickymangos

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Queer disabled multidisciplinary artist Pree Rehal—better known online as Sticky Mangos—considers creating art a part of their pain management. It’s a way to not just distract themselves from the pain, but also to experience something that makes them feel good.

To help others experience that same great feeling, they created the Queerentine Art Challenge on Instagram—a routine-building exercise and a coping strategy. The challenge consists of daily one-word prompts that artists can use to inspire a creative work while they are isolated. Anyone can follow along on social media using #QueerentineAC. The hashtag seems to be catching on: Performance artist Naty Tremblay, for instance, is making daily performance videos based on the prompts, while Toronto artist Tygr Willy is using the challenge as an opportunity to show off their intricate makeup looks.

But there’s no pressure: Rehal also wants anyone participating to remember that it’s okay to schedule in rest days, start late or restart the challenge any time. After all, it’s meant to be a healing practice.

 

A virtual open studio hour with Wy Joung Kou

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56 hours into this beastie! #mosaic #mosaicartist #tigerart (ID: a large mosaic in progress of a tiger is laid out on a bed, in a sun beam. It is made in four frames that stack together vertically. The tiger itself is nearly finished and some of the scenery around it is partially started. A tuxedo cat leans on part of the lowest frame and looks up beyond the camera with bright round green eyes. There is an embarrassing teenage-girl themed patterned fleece blanket on the bed with little drawings of people, flowers, hearts, strawberries, and the words “Cool” and “Whatever” on it.)

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When Wy Joung Kou, a disabled multidisciplinary artist who works primarily with mosaics, had to start following social distancing protocol, they decided to bring an audience to their studio—virtually.

Every weekday for about an hour, Kou livestreams their mosaic-making process, answering questions about the medium along the way. Now, the stream has evolved intoa space where other artists simultaneously create art. It’s a place where artists don’t necessarily have to engage with others but can still hold each other accountable in making their art.

Kou will be continuing their livestream on their Instagram weekdays from 2-3 p.m. EST.

Getting crafty with Kate Welsh

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#artjournal #cow #cowselfie

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Before having to quarantine for her own health, Kate Welsh used to be a part of a close-knit weekly crafting group that would meet in-person to craft together and socialize; she would occasionally teach a craft. Welsh, a community organizer and disabled artist who facilitates practical arts and crafts workshops, had to get creative to keep the group going.

So, she switched to hosting the craft nights over the videoconferencing service Zoom. Like Kou’s virtual studio, it is meant to be a space where queer craftspeople can create together and participate in a show-and-tell to a small, friendly audience. The livestreams are going so well that Welsh is now considering offering another weekly night specifically for disabled artists to create together.

Getting your play on with Crips Do it Better

Some disabled artists are connecting in other creative ways—wink wink. Crips Do it Better, for instance, is an online play party meant to help people safely meet and play while social distancing. Organized by a group of disabled artists, it features an online space where people can watch performers, listen to music and send messages to new people; there’s also the option to move to private “rooms” to flirt or play. While disabled people are often the subject of desexualization and often can’t attend play parties because of inaccessible venues, this party takes advantage of the newfound popularity of Zoom clubs to make a space where disabled folks can claim their sexualities.

Finding support with the COVID-19 Isolation Relief Support Line

The stress and anxiety of this pandemic is palpable for all, but especially those most vulnerable in our communities. That’s where Valentin Brown is stepping in. Brown, a trans, autistic and Mad artist whose work has focused on his lived experience and connecting in new ways has teamed up with a social worker in Hamilton, Ontario, and a group of volunteers to begin operating a support line for those experiencing social isolation. While he emphasizes that it isn’t a crisis line, it was developed to be operated under the values of disability justice.

Those in need can call or text 289-804-2343 weekdays between 6-9 p.m. EST for support.

Legacy: April 2, 2020 12:26 pmThe story has been updated to better reflect the collaborative nature of the COVID-19 Isolation Relief Support Line.

Dev Ramsawakh is an award-winning disabled and non-binary  multidisciplinary storyteller, producer and educator. They’ve been published digitally with Chatelaine and CBC and have produced projects for SKETCH Working Arts and the Luminato Festival in Toronto. They’ve also been included in anthologies such as Disability Visibility, Two Times Removed, and Toronto 2033. They write poetry, model and facilitate workshops, both independently and with CRIP Collective.

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