SEE MY HORROR SHORT ONLINE

In 2021, I mustered up the courage to write, direct, and produce my first narrative film, ANNEXATION. Thanks to Women of Color Filmmakers (WOCF) for providing the film lab, I went on to do the same thing the next year with DOUEN, my second horror short. Due to the pandemic and funding, both films had a short festival run, but I have now made them available to the public to view. Check out both films below.

They warned our children that human civilization would cease and they would be forced to take Earth back. ANNEXATION film follows a mother trying to survive with her daughter after an alien invasion. Human existence may be scarce, but we are not alone.

See the audio-described version here.

Based on a Trinidad and Tobago folklore, DOUEN is a horror film short that follows a woman who comes face-to-face with the collision of her dreams and reality as she and her sister are haunted by ghostly creatures. The lesson: Don’t respond if they call your name.

See the audio-described version here.

I would love your get your feedback. Please share a comment below or send me a message.

Reception & Panel Discussion: Making Art Accessible

The reception for I AM MORE THAN MY HAIR takes place this Sunday, April 4, 2021 from 2-3pm. Councilmember Will Jawando will give the opening remarks, which will be followed by an interview of me at the museum and a short virtual tour. The tour will be followed by the Panel Discussion Making Art Accessible. ASL interpretation will be provided.

I am honored to be a host this amazing Panel, who include:

• Ann Cunningham – Moderator, Tactile Artist, Author
• Becky Emmert – Advocate, Activist, Speaker, Instructor
• Brandy “Unique the Deaf Dancer” Mimms –Deaf Dancer, Choreographer, Teacher, Motivational Speaker
• Cheryl Green – Multi-media Digital Artist, Captioner, Audio Describer
• Julie Hein – Educator, Biologist, Leader in Audio Description & Interpretative Development
• Marguerite Woods – Sculptor/Artist Teacher, President of the At-Large and Board member of the NFBMD

A closing poem will be recited by:

• Jeanetta Price – Founder and CEO of Blind Girl Magic LLC

This is the first time I’ve ever had an exhibition reception online. Although I miss in-person interactions, I am grateful that I have the opportunity to connect online. If you are able to join me for the reception and panel discussion, RSVP.

Unable To Attend? Ask Me A Question

Given that my reception happens on Easter Sunday, Sandy Spring Museum has created a form to submit questions for those unable to attend. Submit your question

I Am More Than My Hair Screening and Q&A

During the exhibition I will host a screening of I AM MORE THAN MY HAIR to take place on Sunday, May 2, 2021 from 2-3pm. It is open and free to the public. The screening will be followed by a Q&A.

RSVP for the screening.

Alyscia Cunningham with Bobby Gailes on WHUR 96.3

Also on LinkedIn

Learn more about the exhibition

My First Accessible Exhibition

Thanks to the continued support of those who’ve contributed… I did it!

A little over a year I ago I attended a meeting a with National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Maryland. Marguerite Woods, a kindred spirit and participant of I Am More Than My Hair, invited me to join her for the Baltimore Chapter Meeting.

It was shocking to learn about the lack of accessibility in the arts and how blind and low vision audiences aren’t considered. I left the meeting feeling inspired enough to make it mandatory that any venue, gallery, or museum that requests my work, must agree that it will be made accessible for audiences with low vision and hearing.

I wanted to find a way to make my visual art accessible in new formats, that would open the experience of the art to people often barred from it.

The first museum to give me the OK for an accessible exhibition was Sandy Spring Museum in Sandy Spring Maryland. My exhibition takes place March 19 – May 28, 2021.

Here’s what I came up with:

Each photograph will be accompanied by a lithophane replica of the portrait. This image shows the lithophane print in production as I type. A lithophane is a three-dimensional image that can be explored by touch. When a light is placed beneath, it creates a unique visual experience.

Braille embossing will accompany written descriptions. Audio description of the images will be provided for visitors who have low vision. Interpreters in ASL (American Sign Language) will facilitate my artist talk. The screening of my film, I Am More Than My Hair, will include closed captioning and audio description for both hearing and vision accessibility. I also organized the panel discussion Making Art Accessible (date TBD).

Given the pandemic, there will also be a virtual component as well as the opportunity to experience it in-person during the Museum’s open hours. The reception and film screening (TBA) will take place online. When you RSVP you will receive updates on the scheduled events. 

Read the newsletter