Transdisciplinary New Media Student Kirby Mealer at the Terra Foundation for American Art

Transdisciplinary New Media Student Kirby Mealer presented an original research work at the Terra Foundation for American Art Center in Paris on November 30, 2023.

Every semester the Liberal Studies & Art History Department selects outstanding PCA students to conduct a research work in collaboration with the Terra Foundation for American Art and Université Paris Nanterre. The project culminates with a public presentation followed by a discussion at the Terra Center in Paris. Together with Juliette Philippe, art history Master student at Université Paris Nanterre (whose project focused on American Photographer Laura Aguilar), Kirby presented a research work on the theme of Inclusivity in American Art to an audience of peers.

Kirby’s project was titled “Inclusivity for Disability in American Art and Museums”: People with disabilities are one of the largest minority groups within the United States, and yet not all artists and artistic spaces take this into consideration for their exhibitions. The utilization of ADA and DEAl* ideals alongside Universal Design can help address and remove the current barriers characterizing museum spaces. This presentation explores how the issue of inclusiveness for disabled visitors is addressed by contemporary American artists and designers such as Alex Dolores Salerno and Shannon Finnegan. It will also provide specific examples of successful disability inclusion within American museums. Additional techniques and tools that artists and museums can promote will be also discussed, more specifically within a new media art perspective. Inclusivity will continue to be an ongoing challenge, as technologies advance and more representation of disability is integrated in the discourse.

Please, join us to congratulate Kirby for their excellent work!

Event is also advertised on the website of the Art History Department at Nanterre

*diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion