“Crip(able) Home”

I am an ambulatory wheelchair user and have been for several years due to my chronic backpain. The wheels can be liberating and allow me spend a longer time in museums than I would otherwise be able to do but there are differences when you view the world from a different space. Much like the hierarchical differences between “craft” and “art”, accessibility becomes secondary and unseen. This work challenges those binaries. This exhibition highlights how mobility challenges can reshape our understanding of home, body, community, and identity.

I believe that sustainable interdependence is the root of liberation. My work explores the intersections of queer midwestern and disabled identities, focusing on how these experiences shape our understanding of community and care. through my social practice, I translate themes of midwestern mothering and queer domesticity into intergenerational dinners, home constructions, and quilts. These practices inform my exploration of motherhood, resilience, and sustainable care.

Instagram: @CharmaineMaker