Welcome to adorn, equip in Wales

Maggie Hampton, Operational Manager of Arts Disability Wales

Photo of Ali Briggs wearing her Hearing Aid Jewelleryg I would like to say how pleased I was when Amanda asked me to open this exhibition. It is very exciting to have this work here in Wales.

My organisation, Arts Disability Wales, is starting a very new phase of work, setting up a disability arts forum to give disabled people a voice in the arts, and we are looking at ways of promoting the profile of arts work by disabled people in Wales.

This exhibition is just what we need. It’s a real plus to see disability arts that is exciting and thought provoking. Work that is truly led by disabled people

This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the arts from the perspective of disabled people

When I saw the catalogue for Adorn I was thrilled to bits to see Ali Briggs sporting hearing-aid jewellery. What a wonderful idea! And when I saw it for real in the exhibition, my first reaction was 'I want that!' I well remember my own despair at being presented with an ugly box hearing aid when I was fifteen. It was designed to hang around my neck, like an albatross, and it was a horrible sickly beige colour, as if it was not meant to be seen. How that ugly contraption was meant to blend in I shall never know. Needless to say, I refused point blank to wear it.

The trouble is that nobody expects disabled people to look glam or interesting. The bits and pieces of equipment we are presented with are proof of that. They are meant to be hidden away, almost something to be ashamed of. It makes me think that maybe this is a reflection of society’s view of us?

Someone once said to me 'better not wear big earrings; they’ll draw attention to your hearing aid'. Even recently my audiologist was surprised when I asked for a gold glittery ear-mould.. It’s time we stopped hiding. We too want to look good.

Everyone feels better when they’ve got a new outfit, and it’s especially good fun to dress up when we’re going out. That’s exactly the same for disabled people too. It’s important to remember that out aids and bits of equipment are extensions of ourselves; where we go, they go too. So good design is important to us.

That’s why I welcome this exhibition. It challenges all kinds of assumptions about disabled people, and puts us where we want to be. Looking good and proud of who we are.

So I am very happy indeed to declare this exhibition open!

Illustration: Ali Briggs wearing her hearing aid jewellery.

© The City Gallery, Leicester and the artists: 2001

This site was built by Ju Gosling aka ju90 during an artist's residency at Oriel 31 in November 2001

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