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Stigma
What do you think about stigma of artists with disabilities ? I am a member of V.S.A. arts and a D.E.S. daughter my sister has schizophrenia. I believe that the A.D.A is a law that is meant to correct stigma of the disabled and believe the art world would be better off to take it seriously. The problem of stigmatizing people with illnesses is the fact it is often a way to violate disabled artists rights. Universities and galleries that try to wiggle out of this law disgust me. Under A.D.A. if you have a medical problem or mental health issue you are suppose to be protected from discrimination. Stigmatizing the Mentally ill who are often extremely creative is wrong .They make powerful statements in Art. It seems to happen alot. Kate Millett is sensitive to this issue In her book The Looney Bin Trip. She also wrote Sexual Politics
and several other books. She is a manic depressive ,a sculptor and an artist,Millett is a great intellectual. Karin Fain
and several other books. She is a manic depressive ,a sculptor and an artist,Millett is a great intellectual. Karin Fain
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rebecca on -
hmmm... Interesting topic. When I look at art, I for the most part don't look at the artist, if that makes sense. Art that moves me, does so because there is something about it that I can connect with and I normally know little about the artist who created it. So, I seem to be clueless about the stigma that you're talking about. I wonder if the media hyping up the illness or disability distracts from the art itself. Something to think about and just a pondering.. what do you think Karin? (forgive me if I sound ignorant to the issue you are passionate about)
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Permalink Reply by Karin Teresa Fain on -
Rebecca if you consider the fact that you could become ill yourself. You might think of this question from the point of view of an artist who experiences a . .disabling condition. What would you do if you had to go under the A.D.A. because for example you had several chronic conditions that required expensive doctors such as nerologists, Ob gyns, digestive specialists?. Perhaps you had no intention of becoming ill but found yourself dealing with D.E.S. exposure in a state that had backwards laws. You tried to file a court case in a statewith backwards laws and ended up stuck with huge bills. I was in graduate school when I sued Eli Lilly for my D.E.S.exposure and was placed under court ordered protection. It caused post traumatic type symptoms and unbelievable stress. I was pulled in several different directions at once and given disability statis for this and other issues.It has impacted my ability to go to school without accomadations i.e. extra time, key to the elevator, a chair, flexibility. Perhaps ,the disability was hidden and this university wasnt following the A.D.A.correctly, Maybe, you had to get disability attorneys to protect your rights. Maybe, there was no media attention because it wasnt public but kept private. How could you handle falling under the A.D.A. as an older adult in the art world? No understanding of D.E.S. or hidden disabilities by the university, or other students who follow the lead of the professors etc. Would you try to protect your rights?
What would you do? I am not talking about making art or viewing it.However, the stress perhaps impacted your ability to produce in the same way. How would you handle being disabled?
What would you do to protect you rights so you received proper accomadations so you could travel to hospitals and deal with your health. After all if you havent got your health you havent got anything.r
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Permalink Reply by Rebecca on
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Is this discussion about stigma or human rights? Obviously, if I needed special accommodations I would fight for them to the end. Yes I would try to protect them. Anyone should. And I am a fighter, passionate as you have shown you are. Life sucks and its hard. And things happen to us and we have no idea why our journey has turned its path without our control. We wonder why... and question "why do I deserve this hardship and pain?" We don't understand and get tired of people saying it will make us stronger. I don't want to HAVE to be strong, but I do what I have to do to live and find the positive and focus on that. Not that it's easy, but that is what I do, since you asked.
I thought this discussion was about the stigma placed on artists with disabilities in the art industry. What is it you want from this discussion? Do you feel that under legal guidelines every gallery should have a disabled section? Do you think that would add to the stigma to do something like that? Or a quota the gallery should meet of carrying art from people with disabilities? I am open to participating in a discussion, but want to figure out what we are discussing.
You also asked what I would do if stress impacted my ability to produce art in the same way. I would keep creating and use my art as a stress relief and I absolutely would not want special treatment because of my illness. That has to do with my personality. I am stubborn and prideful. I take pride in my creations even if they suck, it is an expression of who I am, what I am feeling, and what I am going through at that moment. I would do my best to overcome, but know that I will have to come to a place of accepting that I may never be the same. And I would love myself anyway...... I know nobody else is "me". I don't expect others to share in what I would do or how I would handle life's roadblocks. And I am not belittling your experience at all. I'm just trying to answer your questions and figure out what you want to discuss.
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Permalink Reply by Karin Teresa Fain on
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Hi I appreciate your opinions. What I wanted to discuss is based on alot of personal experiences.I feel the art world needs to be open to all people regardless of their disability. I think V.S.A.arts addresses these issues.
I was trying to open some minds.I really understand what you mean by trying to stand up to road blocks. If you can look beyond the disability and see that we are all frail and important I think it is a good thing.Art is a process for me and my spirit and body are connected. Sometimes I have to look at my authentic self and heal.I do think stigma is alive and well in the art world. Presently, I am exhibiting art with Thunderbird Clubhouse in Norman to fight stigma against mental illness. Several of the artists I find interesting. I support their ability to keep making art with a disability.I also think that universities and art schools when they find out someone is disabled, they shouldn't try to pressure them out.i.e.making it much harder so they have to jump through more and more hoops.Rather then correctly accommadating them.Peace
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Permalink Reply by Karin Teresa Fain on
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The law is clear. The A.D.A. is written clearly. Mental illness is also a clearly defined illness that deserves correct accommadation in the art world. The A.D.A.is meant to make it so the disabled have a fair opportunity.I hate judgemental people that are not tolerant and empathatic. The A.D.A. works on complaints. The art world needs to follow the law in employment practices and educating the disabled.
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Permalink Reply by Rebecca on
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Thank you for starting this thread. It will bring the issues to alot of us who are unaware it is even a problem. I wonder how many artists on this site are disabled and if anyone is willing to share your opinion on the topic at hand. Is it a common thing to be discriminated against in the art industry? I agree that laws should either be followed or changed. Karin, I hope you see the progress you are looking for. Good Luck!
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Permalink Reply by Karin Teresa Fain on
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Hi! Rebecca maybe I will get some more responses soon.Yes the law should be followed.I had a disability law center represent me we filed a complaint against a University.Because of the sensitiveness of the issues. I will not reveal what happened here. Hippa laws protect confidentiality and know one should have to discuss anything they are not comfortable with.I hope some of my disabled friends showing in the art show Eclectic Collection will join. They are so excited about the art show that they were finally given their chance to show their unique perspectives.Most are mentally ill this doesnt mean intellectually deficiant or dumb.I hope my friends will join soon so you can see their beautiful art.Peace
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Permalink Reply by Karin Teresa Fain on
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To contact V.S.A.arts the toll free number is 1 800 933-8721.Web address is http://www.vsarts.org or go to www.vsarts.org/bestpractices/dag/index.html. It really is a good site hope this information helps some of you.
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Permalink Reply by Marlowe T. Brown on -
Hi Karen,
I'm actually working on a project right now called, "Out of Our Minds". My father is bi-polar, and I have a couple of friends who live with B.P.D. and schizophrenia. I don't know much about A.D.A., but I do know that the time is right to enhance public awareness of what we call mental disability. It's not a disability in my opinion. From my experience, they are mentally MORE abled. It's the rest of us who are disabled in our ability to translate their world. Understandably, it all comes from fear and there are certainly times when the mentally more abled can be dangerous. There are extremes in all facets of life, but we are all out of our minds in one way or another. I hope to celebrate this in my project. I'll check out The Looney Bin Trip. Love the title. My dad calls himself psycho-ceramic (cracked pot). I call him Papa Wheely.
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Permalink Reply by Karin Teresa Fain on
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Check out the V.S..A. arts link. If you visit both sites you will see it includes the mentally ill or mentally more able as you say.I have depression, post tramatic stress disorder, and I am a D.E.S. daughter.Mental illness can happen to anyone it doesn't effect your intellegence. It is an illness.You can seek treatment. Their is a difference between a psychotic and a nerotic personality.There is some research on D.E.S. and depressiion. D.E.S.daughters, sons,mothers. and grand children can join D.E.S. Action.The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill also has very good sources of information. Their abreviation is N.A.M.I. Mental illness can be disabling.Many people with mental illness are highly intelligent. The spectrum of people it effects is very wide. Yes ,some mentally ill people can be dangerous to themselves or others at times. I have many friends with mental illness who I have known for years and they are perfectly harmless.If someone acts out in a dangerous manner they can be treated. Your project sounds facinating you should learn about the A.D.A. In my state we have a Department of Mentlal Health. They can refer you to sources of information I would see if you have any disability law centers you can call.You state we are all out of our minds in one way or another.This maybe true! On the extreme side of mental illness it can be a real problem causing homelessness and devastating lives. My sister has been hospitalized many times for schizophrenic attacks. She was run over by a car when she was off her medicine and preaching in the streets.She also flew to England was off her medicine and jumped through a window.We had to work with the Embassy to bring her home. They do not put schizophrenics on .planeswhen they are that ill. I say to you It is a matter of the degree or intensity of the mental illness and instability that doctors pay attention to.You might watch the movie Girl Interrupted. Recovery is now the philosophy of treatment and we do not want to stigmatize those with mental illness. Places like Fountain House and Thunderbird Clubhouse that I am a member of offen try to help people recover.A friend of mine was toxic with heavy metals since she grew up on a farm and was exposed to pesticides this can cause depression..I personally believe that we need to take profit out of health care so we can have better treatment of all illnesses. This is just my opinion. You might check out the movie "Sicko" by Michael Moore .It is a movie but has alot of interesting information about our healthcare system Good luck with your paper. You might actually talk with recovering mentally ill people. They all have their individual stories and often are very interesting.If we want the mentally ill to actually recover then the A.D.A. is a law that helps protect their rights for education and in the workforce.Hope some of this information helps you. We all need to really edcate ourselves sense stigma and misconceptions do not help anyone.Of course there are problems with unethical practices in the mental health system that Kate Millett mentions in her book.
Her book The Looney Bin Trip is a classic attack on the mental health system and makes us question practices and procedures. I believe from a clients or consumers prospective this is a good thing. I hope this helps you a bit.
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Permalink Reply by Karin Teresa Fain on
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I forgot to mention the fact that childhood abuse can cause mental illness and post traumatic stress disorder. If a person has mental illness in their childhood it is a more extreme kind of illness. Also some young people develope schizophrenia in their 20s. Alot of reasons are unknown.I know some people who were extremely abused as children and this causes mental illness. One woman I will not tell her name was abused by her father. She is afraid to go out of her house.She is a shy person and very sweet individual. A young woman I have known for years from art therapy is also a very sweet person. SHe is around 35 and carries stuffed animals around all the time.She lives in her own world and is a very good artist.She is now recovering.WhenI was In art therapy she drew a wonderful picture of me that I treasure.
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Permalink Reply by Karin Teresa Fain on
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Psychitrists actually determine what constitutes a mental disability some people have other physical problems that impact this determination. It is determined by the doctors as it should be. One can not practice medicine without a license and the determination is regarded as practicing medicine. Also people who tell you they have a disability should not have to explain anything they are protected by hippa laws.They can tell you as much or as little as they wish.If they have doctors letters it is enough and should not have to be judged by otherss who are not doctors. It makes sense.
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