Journey with us through Portraits and Portals below.

Time To Survive

Yaneris González Gómez (Goga). Goga is a Dominican activist and visual artist. The work was formed from stories shared by Blanca Angulo, Survivor of two earthquakes, including the devastating 1985 earthquake in Mexico City, Mexico. The piece cleverly conveys the disorienting experience of evacuation from a high-rise building as a blind person during an active earthquake.

Visual Description | Time To Survive

What survived was reborn sacred

Johnnie Jae is a Disabled Otoe-Missouria and Choctaw artist, journalist, and advocate whose work blends storytelling, digital media, and activism to explore themes of identity, resilience, and Indigenous futurism. This piece was formed from stories shared by Cassandra Lopez Fradera, Survivor of the COVID-19 pandemic response in Puerto Rico. The suit is a multi-dimensional beaded tapestry of Cassandra’s spiritual connection to waterways and Indigenous knowledge ways. It reflects a constellation of the ancestral threads that provided a trusted tether across time and space to her people when she needed it most. When she needed such connections to survive.

Visual Description | What Survived Was Reborn Sacred

Hands Speaking In Burning Shadows ~ Maui

Fred M. Beam, from Tampa, FL, is a BlackDeaf visual and performance artist. This piece was formed from stories shared by Audelina Agbayani & Jay-are Sabalo, Survivors of the Maui wildfires. The piece powerfully depicts the multifaceted challenges faced by Deaf people during disasters. It offers an array of Deaf centric vignettes that guide viewers through the lived experiences of J.R. and Audelina.

Visual Description | Hands Speaking In Burning Shadows ~ Maui

Prayer

Hoat! Sarah Young Bear-Brown/tti-Ks-mi-ge-is a fifth-generation Indigenous beadwork
artist. This piece was formed from stories shared by Alofaeleuma Faualo, Survivor of multiple tsunami threats/evacuations. The piece depicts Alofaeleuma and his family, who have experienced being left behind to face Tsunami threats alone in American Samoa. Both Alofaeleuma and his sister have physical disabilities. The intricate beaded piece invite viewers to witness an interpretation of survival steeped in fortitude, family and faith.

Visual Description | Prayer

The Life of Taher

El and Var are two Brooklynites, visual artists and poets. Together, they make up the dynamic OPEN DOORS Design Team. This piece was inspired by stories shared by Taher, Survivor of incarceration through extreme heat waves, hurricanes, and the COVD-19 pandemic. The piece is comprised of poetic scenescapes and testimonial interpretations related to Taher’s lived experiences as a Deaf Person of Color navigating crises while incarcerated.

Audio Description | The Life Of Taher

Home

Thomas Reid is a podcast host, audio producer and audio description narrator. This piece was formed from stories shared by Jill Sherman-Warne, Survivor of the Fish Kill Disaster and multiple wildfires. The piece embarks on a narrative voyage that travels through Jill’s lived experiences. Thoughtfully designed soundscapes and Jill’s own voice guide us through her journey of providing familial care work during crises as a person who is also disabled.

Captioned Edition | Home

Royalty

Deshaymond Soloman, known as the “Blind Savage,” is a singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur who takes pride in redefining what it means to be blind. This piece was formed from stories shared by Dr. Patricia Ann Stukes, Disaster Researcher and survivor of severe storms/power outages. The song serves as a symphonic synopsis of the resourcefulness and interdependence often deployed by disabled people during disasters. It is an anthem of survival and a declaration of dignity/self-determination even amid the most difficult of circumstances.

Captioned Edition | Royalty