Braintree Resident Among Artists In Upcoming 'Shared' Exhibit

WORCESTER, MA — A Braintree resident will be among the group of artists showing work at Worcester's Open Door Gallery at the Worcester Art Museum this month.

An opening reception for the gallery's first group exhibition, "Shared", is scheduled for April 17 from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

The reception will include a special performance titled “An Art of Care” by artist Chenda Cope, along with an artist-led walkthrough with Liz Doles, Judith Klausner, Sophie Pearson and Braintree resident DaNice D. Marshall.

The exhibition features the work of eight artists with disabilities who are from or currently live in Massachusetts. In addition to those above, the exhibition features the work of Alana Guarino, Ọmọlará Williams McCallister, and Mika Cook-Wright.

"Shared" delves into the theme of sharing through the artists’ experiences, materials and processes. Through painting, fiber, sound, drawing, sculpture and performance, these artists articulate concepts of community, grief, identity, ecologies and interdependence, gallery officials said.

“I think about the resources my body shares amongst itself, the energy there never seems to be enough of and the blood that pools in my legs, and the resources society shares, or fails to share, like shelter, food, and healthcare,” Cook-Wright says. “In both cases there is enough of the resource for all parties, but the process of sharing facilitates whether or not these resources are effectively or equitably distributed.”

A collaboration between Open Door Arts, an affiliate of Seven Hills Foundation, and the Worcester Art Museum, ODG@WAM is the only permanent gallery dedicated to promoting the work of artists with disabilities within a museum setting in Massachusetts.

Since its launch in 2017, ODG@WAM has showcased the work and stories of hundreds of emerging and established artists with disabilities, increased visibility and representation, and served as a platform for community conversation about disability, identity and culture, officials said.

“ODG@WAM helps make tangible WAM’s commitment to becoming a more welcoming and accessible environment for all,” said Marnie P. Weir, WAM’s Director of Learning and Engagement.

“This exhibition is a powerful example of how artists with disabilities shape culture and expand how we understand creativity, connection and community,” said Open Door Arts Managing Director Nicole Agois. “For the first time at ODG@WAM, Shared invites visitors to experience multiple perspectives and artistic practices within one exhibition.”

The gallery is free and open to the public on Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m on the first level of the Higgins Education Wing of the Worcester Art Museum.

Accessibility features of the exhibition include large print labels, braille guides, an audio tour and tactile materials and representations of the artworks. ASL interpreters and sighted guide tours are available upon request for the opening reception.

"Shared" will be on display through May 22.