The Anderson and VCUarts are pleased to present High Functioning, a solo exhibition of student artwork by Ryder Paley (Craft/Material Studies). This solo exhibition explores the autistic experience through functional tableware and features work created by the artist through an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). The exhibition will be on view from January 16th – February 7th with an opening reception on January 16th from 5-8 pm.
Exhibition Statement:
High Functioning was inspired by my experiences navigating the world as an autistic person. Being disabled, I often am not able to meet expectations. With accommodations and my own strategies I’m mostly able to get around the obstacles my disability presents. I designed tableware as a means to explore function and expectation. Tableware reliably functions to the point we don’t think twice about what these objects are. By breaking tableware conventions, my work asks what it means to be a cup, plate, bowl, or jar. How can expectations cause misunderstandings? When can perceived weaknesses become strengths? And does function equal value? Each piece contends with these questions and has its unique answer. I designed the ceramic objects with my experience as an autistic in mind, having them appear one way but function a bit differently, to help people understand the ways disabled people manage daily struggles. In a world where individuals are valued for their function, or what they produce that is valuable to others, I want to destroy the capitalist objectification of people as resources and challenge us to see value as inherent to people regardless of their ability.
– Ryder Paley
