Can You See Us Vancouver? Art exhibition presented for people using wheelchairs

Can You See Us Vancouveris a distinct art exhibition in two ways, first as an exhibition featuring only artists who are living with disabilities, and second in that all the pieces are presented at the optimal height for people who use wheelchairs.

"Standard height in museums and galleries is either a 56 or a 60 inch center, and we chose 48 as the rounded number for people who use wheelchairs, for the artist to come and see the show from an optimal point of view,"said Yuri Arajs, one of theexhibition's curators.

"On some levels this is probably the most accessible art exhibition you will everexperience."

The exhibitionfeatures nine artistsandis taking place from Nov. 6 toDec. 1 at the Pendulum Gallery in Vancouver.

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Athena Cooper is an acrylic and digital painter whose work is featured in the exhibition.She says wheelchair accessibilityis one of the reasons why she hasn't shown off her work until now.

"You know it's really difficult sometimes, even in this city where it is probably one of the more accessible cities in Canada. There's a lot of galleries that aren't even wheelchair accessible.It isa challenge to find a space that I can even get into," said Cooper.

"This is a space that's easily accessible by public transit.You know there's an automatic door, there's a wheelchair bathroom, all these things that are important."

Arajssays he wants this exhibit to challenge people's assumptions about artists who livewith disabilities, and people with disabilities in general.

"My goal with this exhibition is for all of those ideas to be thrown away, and to prove to you how great all the artwork is by all the artists that we're representing here," said Arajs.

Cooper, who stands under 43 inchestall, echoes the goal of challenging how people look at her and other people living with disabilities.

"The fact that this show is called can you see us. I think that's a very interesting question because as a person with a disability I am very aware that people see me, but it's a question of how they see me, and what they see," said Cooper.

"I'm really hoping that people take a look at this work and see the richness of experience, see what value that these people bring to the community and to the arts community as well."

With files from Margaret Gallagher and The Early Edition