You’re invited to ON DISPLAY HARVARD 2024in commemoration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on December 3rd. ON DISPLAY HARVARD is in collaboration with ON DISPLAY GLOBAL, a worldwide movement installation and social justice initiative created by physically-integrated dance company Heidi Latsky Dance.
The Office for the Arts (OFA) Dance Program has been an ambassador of the work for the last six years, presenting ON DISPLAY HARVARD at accessible locations across campus and virtually each year, and building a community of partners and diverse performers to bring awareness of disability justice, art, and culture to Harvard's campus and beyond.
This year, ON DISPLAY HARVARD returns to the Calderwood Courtyard in Harvard Art Museums, free and open to the public.
The work invites performers and audience members alike to consider societal "norms" about disability and celebrates difference as an affirmation of our humanity. Performers– a mix of Harvard students, staff, and community members– will create sculptural compositions of their own making which will slowly evolve in real time over the course of the hour.
Audience members are invited to wander through the installation at their own pace and trajectory and view each performer up close. The work explores the tenuous and complex relationship between the viewer and viewed, potentially blurring the lines while claiming agency for both.
Performers will wear unique art pieces created by Pin Sangkaeo GSD'24 and Benson Joseph GSD'24, aka (snobs._)
Sighted guides and audio description will be offered throughout the installation for blind and visually impaired audiences; a pre-show tactile tour with description of wearable art will be offered at 11:30am. Meet at Quincy St. entrance at 11:30am for pre-show, and 12pm for installation. Late visitors will still be able to join the tour.
The Harvard Art Museums building is accessible for visitors using wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
If you anticipate needing any additional type of access service or if you have any questions about attending ON DISPLAY HARVARD 2024 at Harvard Art Museums, please contact dance@fas.harvard.edu and 617-496-0314. We welcome the conversation!