As a Mixed-Media Artist, I believe in the power of art to tell stories, to create a universal space for something beautiful that can challenge people’s perceptions.
From the age of 16, I had a story to share. I became a young person diagnosed with a tumor, who would acquire a physical disability. As the years went by, the story became much more than just about me — it became about the way society perceived women with disabilities.
Last year, I was inspired to create a mixed-media exhibition, The South Asian Perspective, from my lived experiences grappling with biases, both conscious and unconscious, as a woman of color and as a woman with a disability. The objective of this exhibit is to increase inclusiveness in our society at large, and specifically within the South Asian community. As a South Asian woman who has been immersed in the community since birth, I am aware of the cultural and social factors that come with being South Asian, whether in South Asia or abroad. Through storytelling and art, I hope to challenge the way “we,” as a collective global society, perceive individuals with disabilities, especially women.
I am fascinated with mixed-media because it has the capacity to be felt. It is accessible not only through sight, but also through touch. Art can, and should, be used to explore opportunities in the disability space. My master’s degree in public health with a focus on media and art shows my commitment to this belief. Art is universal, like love — and through shared universal experiences, we begin to recognize our similarities rather than our differences.
Power To Lead
The 25th anniversary celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act in Chicago in 2015 created pivotal opportunities for me to continue growing as a leader while championing inclusion through art and storytelling. As part of the anniversary celebrations, I was selected for the role of co-director of Chicago ReelAbilities Film Festival, whose mission is to humanize the experience of disability.
I am a 2018 [Disability Lead] Fellow. The Leadership Institute was created for emerging leaders with disabilities who envision themselves in leadership roles in professional and civic spaces. Fellows build connections with one another, strengthen their skills and build the confidence needed to take their leadership skills to new heights. [Disability Lead] connected me to Fellow Evelyn Keolian. Through this beautiful connection, Evelyn and I were able to collaborate and bring The South Asian Perspective exhibit to the Harold Washington Library in downtown Chicago.
What have my experiences taught me about power, influence and leadership? Individuals share a deep relationship with their community. Each one of us is a collective of our experiences, and those experiences are profoundly impacted by society and culture. Society can be the building block for success or present barriers which hinder our ability to grow and flourish. Who decides which individual will flourish and which will fail? Often, we feel it is destiny. Individuals are the creators of society, and society determines our destinies. The simple fact is, individuals are the change-makers. We have always been the change-makers.
As an Artist, storyteller and leader, I can plant a seed in the mind of individuals — that a woman of color with a disability can be a powerful and influential person.
Grishma Shah is the Co-Director for the Chicago ReelAbilities Film Festival and an Artist completing her PhD in Community Psychology. In October of last year, she wrote this piece to reflect on her accomplishments as a 2018 Fellow of Disability Lead. This article was originally posted on The Chicago Community Trust blog on October 22, 2018.