From ACVC 2007

Audio Cinema presents the second annual Audio Cinema Visual Collective Exhibition, featuring a diverse group of West Coast artists working in many different media. Audio Cinema's 10,000 square foot warehouse space allows for installation, performance, and wall-mounted art to function harmoniously in a single exhibition.

Opening Friday, August 10, 6pm-2am. $5 donation (a portion of the proceeds will be donated to P:ear).
On view August 11 & 12, 12-6pm, sliding scale donation.
Audio Cinema | 226 SE Madison St. | 503.467.4554

Will art lovers who use wheelchairs be able to enjoy this exhibition? Except for last year's TBA festival, previous exhibits in this space have discriminated against people with disabilities. The people who run the facility have been aware of this for at least a year. Please let us know what arrangements AC has made to allow everyone access to this exhibition. Thanks!

I've been mulling over Brett's comment for a while... I don't know if anyone will see this comment (since the posting is old), but here it is anyway.

Port has had a couple of comment streams (all from Brett?) about wheelchair accessibility to temporary art spaces. While I empathize with those pushing for more accessibility, my sympathies are more in line with the artists & curators who have their hands full (and pocket books empty) with just managing to pull off the show.

I imagine that the law is on the side of the accessibility advocates and that it would be easy for them to take an entrenched position. However, that's unlikely to accomplish much.

Here's my suggestion to those for whom this is a major issue: put together a group who will assist with providing accessibility. The group could come in during a show's planning phase, evaluate the space for accessibility needs, and provide the expertise (and reusable ramps?) to implement it. This could be done for a modest (artists' budget-sized) fee... say $100-$200... that would eventually offset the cost of ramp materials, etc.

So long as the issue remains one of just talk & type, it's easy to ignore. But if curators and artists see advocates willing to roll up their sleeves and help address the issue, I think they'll become proactive, too.

Thanks for both of your comments.

It is a tricky issue because we are discussing often expensive solutions for very low budget situations.

I think its important though and despite the fact that Organism's next show (August 25th) is in a building that has been grandfathered in (bluesky's former space in the Pearl @ 1231 NW Hoyt).. it will have acessibility. There is a ramp in back and through a complicated series of space navigations the show will be wheelchair acessible (it will require a phonecall but our volunteer staff is prepapred to make it happen).

Still, other historic and or raw spaces will have some serious problems to overcome and it will take a task force of some sort to address. Weve made a serious effort but to be honest those with less connections are going to have a rough time doing the same and they will need help. I ask, who will spearhead this... I can help out but I lack the experience and or time to be the main organizer?

I think it is important though. For Organism's now regular monthly shows over th next half year+ weve made a point to get spaces that are accessible... but I can attest to the fact that this was incredibly difficult in such a hot real estate market.

For funky low rent warehouse spaces I think some sort of non profit acessibility task force should be created. If somebody (like Bret) is passionate enough to create such an entity I think the arts community (and possibly city) support would follow.