We invite you to join us for the Artist Talk featuring founder and curator, activist, and educator, Jessica Elaine Blinkhorn.

SPANKBOX founder and curator is Atlanta based interdisciplinary artist, activist, and educator, Jessica Elaine Blinkhorn. Blinkhorn refers to this project as her cathartic child. SPANKBOX was started when Blinkhorn began researching the incidences of sexual assault in the disabled community after her own in May of 2022. "I was floored by the numbers of sexual assaults in the disabled community. I thought, 'why is no one talking about this?' I truly believe that disability and sexuality should be talked about more openly and in an inclusive way. I can't help but to think that if our community were allowed to be seen as dimensional people who are innately sexual, the number of assaults would not be as high. When you tell someone they can't have something or wanting is wrong, you make it taboo, you make it sought after. People, sometimes, will stop at nothing to get what they want and when you objectify an entire community some people will not respect the individual’s right to say 'NO!' Because they're only being seen as an object."

SPANKBOX is a photographic installation that depicts individuals with physical disabilities in hypersexualized poses and situations. SPANKBOX puts the power back in the hands of those with physical disabilities by granting the audience permission to look, fantasize, and question disability and sexuality in a safe environment. It also allows people to see themselves for who they really are by answering the questions presented by those whose images hang in the SPANKBOX gallery. During the performance portion of the installation, audience members will have their words read back to them to assist the viewer with realizing their internalized prejudices and exclusionary practices.