Seven River City Art Association members currently have artwork featured in the Vigo County Public Library’s 2025 NEA Big Read art exhibition, “The Beauty of Different,” inspired by this year’s Big Read book selection, “Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body,” by Rebekah Taussig.
Debra Butler entered a mixed media piece titled “ACCESSIBILITY is More than a Parking Space.” Maria Deis titled her artwork “Conditional Response.” RCAA president Mary Mayhew was inspired to create her oil on canvas board titled “Speed.” A photograph by Jennifer Minnis is titled “Orkney Bluebell Thru the Cracks.” Elise Spaid-Roberts created a mixed media entry, “My Vision Board,” using eye drop vials and blackout poetry. Kris Toney asks “Where is My Mind?” in her digital mixed media entry. Donna Pomfret entered a painting titled “Unnoticed.”
Visit the library exhibition March and April in the lobby of the main branch at Seventh and Poplar streets. A reception with refreshments and conversation is set for 6 to 7 p.m. April 23 in the library’s Lifelong Learning Center. Prizes will be awarded to the Best of Show and People’s Choice, as voted by a guest judge and library customers.
Book selection background: The book was chosen because it addresses community perspectives on disabilities and promotes the growth of an accessible and inclusive society, states the library’s invitation to artists. Through Taussig’s engaging narrative, the book invites the Wabash Valley community to explore themes of inclusivity, resilience, and compassion, and to encourage meaningful dialogue about our shared and diverse experiences.
Book summary: The author reflects on a lifetime of experiences shaped by disability, capturing her journey from a young girl searching for authentic representation, to a woman intent on sharing stories that challenge ableist norms. Paralyzed since she was a toddler, Taussig grew up in the 1990s and early 2000s without seeing disabled lives represented in media beyond stereotypes. It wasn’t until her 20s that, through education and connection with the disabled community, she found new ways of seeing herself and the world. Taussig blends personal stories with sharp insights, inviting readers to imagine a world with greater creativity, adaptability, and access for all. Her reflections bridge gaps in understanding between disabled and non-disabled experiences.
River City Art Association 