I didn’t begin thinking about my own disability and neurodivergence until my son was diagnosed as Autistic at the age of 3. I felt it essential to begin redefining my role as a disabled parent and raising a disabled child by exploring how my art and design practice could inform a framework for community engagement advocating for Autistic communities. This includes breaking the visual cycle of unjust stigmas within social and clinical practices in the process. This led me to release an advocacy photo zine in 2018 entitled “KnoxRoxs” dedicated to my Autistic son, as a way to give visibility to children of color in Neurodiverse communities. My definition of Mothering as an act of Resistance aims to empower and activate change – encouraging families and communities to engage in conversations about acceptance and joy starting with how Neurodivergent children and adults are treated, valued and seen. The framework further amplifies what happens when one centers disabled parenting on identifying social inaccuracies that should be dismantled.
Artist Bios
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Jen White-Johnson
Jen White-Johnson is a disabled and Neurodivergent Afro-Latina art activist and design educator whose visual work aims to uplift disability justice narratives in design. As an artist-educator with Graves disease and ADHD, Jen uses photography, zines and collage art to explore the intersection of content and caregiving, emphasizing redesigning ableist visual culture. Jen has presented her disability justice activist work and collaborated with a number of brands and art spaces across print and digital such as Twitter, Target, Converse, and Apple. Her photo and design work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, AfroPunk, and is permanently archived in libraries at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and most recently acquired by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. In 2020 she was an honoree on the Diversability’s D-30 Disability Impact List and In 2021 she was listed as 20 Latino Artists to watch on Today.com Jen has an MFA in Graphic Design from The Maryland Institute College of Art, she currently lives in Baltimore with her husband Kevin and 10-year-old son Knox.
Organizations
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Photoville
Founded in 2011 in Brooklyn, NY, Photoville was built on the principles of addressing cultural equity and inclusion, which we are always striving for, by ensuring that the artists we exhibit are diverse in gender, class, and race.
In pursuit of its mission, Photoville produces an annual, city-wide open air photography festival in New York City, a wide range of free educational community initiatives, and a nationwide program of public art exhibitions.
By activating public spaces, amplifying visual storytellers, and creating unique and highly innovative exhibition and programming environments, we join the cause of nurturing a new lens of representation.
Through creative partnerships with festivals, city agencies, and other nonprofit organizations, Photoville offers visual storytellers, educators, and students financial support, mentorship, and promotional & production resources, on a range of exhibition opportunities.
For more information about Photoville visit, www.photoville.com
Autistic Joy
Featuring: Jen White-Johnson
Supported by:
Locations
ON VIEW AT: Container 2
View Location Details Download a detailed map of this location Brooklyn Bridge Park – Emily Warren Roebling Plaza1 Water St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
This location is part of Brooklyn Bridge Park
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Related Events
Autistic Joy Interactive Zine Making Workshop
Come create a photo zine uplifting of autism acceptance, disability joy and inclusion with Disability Art Activist Jen White-Johnson, this workshop is designed and tailored for Neurodivergent and disabled communities.
Learn More