Carmen Papalia

Carmen Papalia is a nonvisual social practice artist whose performances, public interventions and curatorial projects explain aspects of Disability culture such as interdependence, de-medicalization and creative accessibility. His practice is an effort to enliven his 2015 Open Access manifesto–a set of guidelines that undermines dominant institutional frameworks by approaching accessibility as a “temporary, collectively-held space”. Often emphasizing the possibilities of living on ones own terms, his work is a remedy for the complications of cultural ableism. Papalia’s performances, videos, installations and curatorial projects have been shown in Canada, US, UK, EU, Australia, Korea and Japan. He is a recipient of the 2020 Sobey Art Award. Papalia’s current work includes Up in the Clouds, Down in the Valley–a full-length documentary about creative accessibility and Disability culture that he is co-writing with Vancouver filmmaker Carmen Pollard.

Weather for the blind, Vancouver

Weather for the Blind Vancouver is a healing, disability-informed sound event by non-visual social practice artist Carmen Papalia, featuring the Weather Warlock — an analog synthesizer built by New Orleans musician and inventor Quintron. The instrument responds to real-time weather conditions through a sensor tree that includes inputs for temperature, wind, light/UV index, rain/moisture, and barometric pressure. This event marks the first time Papalia has invited an audience to appreciate the power of the Weather Warlock with him. He will share the story of the instrument, offer a demonstration, perform live, and lead a discussion about its effects. Papalia, who lives with sickle cell disease and vision loss, has incorporated the Weather Warlock into his daily care routine as a grounding tool. He considers it a public utility — a sonic companion and therapeutic presence — for anyone who might benefit from its steady, weather-driven soundscape.