Tres Fridas

• • 3ARTS MATCH
  • 142% contributed

The goal of this campaign is to raise funds to exhibit the Tres Fridas project at Bridgeport Arts Center in Chicago during the month of September 2019. Tres Fridas is a collaboration between myself, Mariam Pare, and Tara Ahern. We are women and artists with disabilities who deeply relate to Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. A few years ago we recreated Kahlo’s famous painting Dos Fridas featuring us sitting in our wheelchairs in order to share a message about the human experience of disability. The success of this piece led us to recreate other notable images of art and history that substitute the subjects with people with disabilities. We created these images to redress the way mainstream society views disability, to humanize it. We want to change perspectives and reveal to everyone who sees our exhibit how differences add value to our communities. We did this to create awareness and inclusivity. This project has given us the opportunity to meet and collaborate with many other artists with disabilities in Chicago and build a stronger community among us all. Now we have a full series and an opportunity to exhibit the work to a wider public. Funds raised through this campaign will be used to help cover gallery fees, printing and framing costs, installation, and ADA services to offer an inclusive experience to attendees of all abilities. Most importantly, this project is an opportunity for us to challenge and change perceptions about disability.

About This Project

I first met Mariam Pare online in 2013. Mariam is a mouth painter who was injured and paralyzed from the chest down from a gunshot. I was paralyzed in a car accident. Without ever meeting in person, we bonded through art, injury, and a deep connection to Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

Mariam and I often discussed how people with disabilities are not seen as equal and are defined as objects of inspiration, shame, fear, or pity. In 2014 we decided to recreate the painting Dos Fridas using photography, making our own costumes, and inserting ourselves in the image sitting in our wheelchairs. This was the first time we met in person even though we lived less than an hour away from one another.

It was important for our process and voice to include a photographer who was a woman with a disability as well. My long-time friend, photographer and disability advocate Tara Ahern, connected to the project through her own experience as a woman with muscular dystrophy and scoliosis, as well as a shared love of Frida. Soon all three of us began to recreate other iconic images in art and history. The collection includes recreations of such iconic works as Dos Fridas, Mona Lisa, Rosie the Riveter, The Last Supper, Whistler’s Mother, Old Guitarist, and others, all with the subjects as people with disabilities.

After working on this project for five years, with your support through this campaign, we are ready to exhibit our work in September 2019 at the Bridgeport Arts Center. 

Thank yous

Contribute any amount or choose from the levels below.

• $25
  Social media shout-out ($25.00 is tax deductible.)
• $50
  Above, plus your name listed as a contributor in a printed exhibition brochure ($50.00 is tax deductible.)
• $100
  Above, plus a thank you card with a drawing created by Reveca, Mariam, or Tara ($100.00 is tax deductible.)
• $250
  Above, plus a private tour of the exhibition ($250.00 is tax deductible.)
• $500
  Above, plus Reveca, Tara, and Mariam will take you out for a cup of coffee and conversation ($470.00 is tax deductible.)
• $750
  Above, plus a "Dos Fridas" art print (10x10) ($670.00 is tax deductible.)

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Reveca Torres

Chandler Family Awardee

Reveca Torres was paralyzed in a car accident as a teenager. After completing degrees in Fashion Design and Theatre Arts, Reveca worked as a costume designer and simultaneously with organizations doing disability work in health, advocacy, recreation, and peer support. …

View Reveca Torres's profile

• 3 updates
• 54 supporters

• Update 1: One Week Left!!!

  Posted on July 21, 2019

   

  Dear friends we are just one week away from closing this campaign! Thank you to those who have donated or shared our project. Although we reached our initial goal, we continue to fundraise to help us, not only with our exhibition in September but also to fund out documentary film about this journey.

  SAVE THE DATE! OPENING NIGHT - SEPTEMBER 7TH!

  Update 2: Please join us for Opening Night of Tres Fridas!

  Posted on August 26, 2019

   

  

   

  A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to Tres Fridas Project! Thank you! Thank you!

  Please join us for our Opening Night of the exhibition on September 7th at Bridgeport Arts Center. This really would not be happening without your support!

  Sending LOVE!

  Update 3: A Big Success!

  Posted on September 10, 2019

   

  Tres Fridas opening night was Saturday and it was such a big success thanks to generous donors like you! Please visit the exhibit before it closes on September 22nd!

  Check out this great recap from ABC Chicago

  https://abc7chicago.com/society/3-artists-recreate-iconic-art-through-lens-of-disability/5522951/?fbclid=IwAR0woMXv8O_9DILgLCxhkPn_F--okNXNH-NKNvGs1UKt5gikFMM8ghotpWw

• Thank you to the following for contributing to 3Arts with the recommendation that we support this project.

  • Ian Ruder

  • Deborah Harper

  • Sally Mcdavid

  • Kimberly Poleski

  • Carrie Sandahl

  • Kelly Heneghan

  • Rachel Arfa

  • Lisa Lee

  • Linda Lauterbach

  • Irina Zadov

  • Brianna Beck

  • Susy Chavez

  • Stephanie Clemens

  • Dawn Smith

  • Anne Schaufele

  • Cindy Montgomery

  • Meg Cooch

  • Matt Lauterbach

  • Jacquie Lonning

  • Debbie Nutley

  • Noe Torres

  • Jacqueline Kalogridis

  • Ginger Lane

  • Sarah Michaelson

  • Pamela Crutchfield

  • Pooja Pittie

  • Anuradha Rana

  • John Formanek

  • Allison Walsh

  • Ruth Torres

  • Brook McCall

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  • Anonymous Supporter

  • Kate Ahern

  • Jon Blume

  • Rachel Kraft

  • Margarette Sophia Rodriguez

  • Lisa Rosen

  • Elizabeth Sanchez

  • Erin Coughlin

  • GORDON QUINN

  • Jaclynn Wickey

  • Jesus Mario Contreras

  • Erin Coughlin

  • Ian Kibbe

  • Patricia Ahern

  • Diane Compton

  • Pamela Sherrod Anderson

  • Jason Obaob

  • Ioana Qureshi

  • Laura Ridler

  • Annie Gonzalez

  • Christine Getman

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