- Workshop
Graphic Medicine Cartooning Workshop
The Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing invites members of the Penn community to a graphic medicine cartooning workshop with artist Wendy Elliott-Vandivier. This workshop is held as part of the exhibit A Disabled Artist’s Journey Through Art and Activism, on view from October 15 to November 10.
Dinner will be provided for attendees.
Hosted by: Bates Center
Support for this workshop has been provided by The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation. Special thanks to Penn Nursing’s Dr. Alicia Kachmar for her collaboration in organizing this event.
About the Artist
Wendy Elliott-Vandivier is a graduate of Tyler School of Art, Temple University. She has been making art since she was a young child growing up in Philadelphia. In college, she majored in sculpture and staged a funeral of a disabled poster child to lay stereotypes of pity and helplessness firmly to rest. Her paintings explore issues of family, memory and experiences as a disabled woman. Her autobiographical cartoons focus on attitudinal barriers and stereotypes regarding disabilities, and some of the micro-aggressions that disabled people experience while living normal, “un-inspirational” lives. She is also a photographer of micro-scale monuments in nature, and is often inspired by close-up images that people often do not notice in daily life – tree bark, dead leaves, flower anatomy, and water.
Wendy is also a life-long disability rights activist, and has held leadership positions at the Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities, Disabled in Action of PA, American Association of People with Disabilities and United Spinal Association - Greater Philadelphia.
Wendy is a teaching artist, melding her art with her disability activism. She conducts art workshops on microaggressions and ableism, creating a welcoming and safe space for people of all ages to create cartoons of their own, and engage in meaningful discussions about racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism and other forms of discrimination. She tailors her programs for various age groups from kindergarten, elementary, high school students and beyond. She has also conducted training for universities, businesses and religious organizations. To Wendy, it is all about repairing the world, making it a better place for all!
To view some of Wendy’s work, visit her website.
Please note, this event is open only to University of Pennsylvania faculty, students, and staff. Please contact the Center at nhistory@nursing.upenn.edu if you have any questions regarding this workshop.
Featured image by Wendy Elliott-Vandivier