Clovis Community College Art Exhibitions: March 2023: Erin Schalk

Erin Schalk

Erin Schalk is a visual artist, writer, and educator. She graduated with her MFA in Studio from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2017 and  has exhibited her art throughout the United States, as well as in the United Kingdom and in Japan.  Schalk’s artwork and writing have been published in a variety of literary journals. Today, Schalk teaches at a non-profit organization where she creates accessible visual art and creative writing programs for adults with visual impairments. 

Schalk's works online
ErinSchalk.com
​​Erin Schalk

Marleena Barber (Featuring Erin Schalk's portraits)

Instagram: @elschalk

LinkedIn: Erin Schalk

Through a series of photographs and corresponding poems, artist Erin Schalk examines individual and societal perceptions of disability – both visible and invisible – and poses the questions: How do ideas of ability and disability impact a person’s life experiences? How much of the ‘impairments’ or ‘deficits’ often associated with disabilities hinge upon societal preconceptions, misunderstandings, or imposed limitations?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Schalk's son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In the early stages of diagnosis, a professional psychologist explained to Schalk that upon closer evaluation of her son, she began to see "all of the cracks under the surface." In those first painful moments, Schalk recognized how far we need to go to understand and support disability -- not as an ironclad list of immovable and negative diagnostic criteria -- but as a way of interacting with the world that comes with inherent gifts.

Each individual photographed in this exhibition, including the artist (Erin, chronic auto-immune dysfunction), and the artist's son (Brendan, ASD), experiences some form of disability according to the criteria outlined by the ADA. Additional artists featured include: (1) Mona, a professional dancer with visual impairment, (2) Marleena, a vocalist with albinism, (3) Okja, a visual artist with total blindness, (4) Kylie, a visual artist and poet with visual impairment, and (5) Stephanie, a professional commercial artist with visual impairment.

Schalk highlights a combination of the following: physical features, expressions that reveal aspects of each artist's personality, daily challenges, and significant abilities that exist because of disability. In so doing, she comments on the immense power of human perception -- asking the viewer to briefly see the world through each individual's eyes.

Below is an Audio Tour of the Exhibit.

Petigru Review: Farewell, Mr. Garcia - Novel Excerpt by Erin Schalk

Willawaw Journal: My Mother’s Coat - Poem by Erin Schalk

Parentheses Journal: Ages - Poem by Erin Schalk

Believing is Seeing: Helen Fukuhara - Written by Erin Schalk:

• Rising Stars: Erin Schalk
• Check Out Erin Schalk’s Story
• American Printing House for the Blind’s Change Makers Podcast, Erin Schalk
• Meet Erin Schalk | Artist, Writer, & Educator