WORCESTER, MASS.- Open Door Gallery at the Worcester Art Museum (ODG@WAM) is debuting its first group exhibition, Shared, which features the highly differentiated work of eight artists with disabilities: Chenda Cope, Liz Doles, Alana Guarino, Judith Klausner, DaNice D. Marshall, Ọmọlará Williams McCallister, Sophie Pearson and Mika Cook-Wright.

Shared delves into the theme of sharing through the artists’ experiences, materials and processes. Through painting, fiber, sound, drawing, sculpture and performance, these artists articulate concepts of community, grief, identity, ecologies, and interdependence.

“I think about the resources my body shares amongst itself, the energy there never seems to be enough of and the blood that pools in my legs, and the resources society shares, or fails to share, like shelter, food, and healthcare,” Cook-Wright says. “In both cases there is enough of the resource for all parties, but the process of sharing facilitates whether or not these resources are effectively or equitably distributed.”

A collaboration between Open Door Arts, an affiliate of Seven Hills Foundation, and the Worcester Art Museum, ODG@WAM is the only permanent gallery dedicated to promoting the work of artists with disabilities within a museum setting in Massachusetts. Since its launch in 2017, ODG@WAM has showcased the work and stories of hundreds of emerging and established artists with disabilities, increased visibility and representation, and served as a platform for community conversation about disability, identity, and culture.

“ODG@WAM helps make tangible WAM’s commitment to becoming a more welcoming and accessible environment for all,” said Marnie P. Weir, WAM’s Director of Learning and Engagement.

“This exhibition is a powerful example of how artists with disabilities shape culture and expand how we understand creativity, connection and community,” said Open Door Arts Managing Director Nicole Agois. “For the first time at ODG@WAM, Shared invites visitors to experience multiple perspectives and artistic practices within one exhibition.”

The gallery is free and open to the public on Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is committed to being an accessible and inclusive environment and is located on the first level of the Higgins Education Wing of the Worcester Art Museum. Accessibility features of the exhibition include large print labels, braille guides, an audio tour, and tactile materials and representations of the artworks. ASL interpreters and sighted guide tours are available upon request for the opening reception.

Shared will be on display through May 22, 2025.