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EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS

The Nightstand Collective Exhibition (2021)

In November 2021 Able Zine took part in an exciting project as part of the V&A Museum's Friday Late November event ‘I Hope This Finds You Well.’ 

For the event, Able was invited to create an installation within the museum. Inspired by an article about The Nightstand Collective in Able Zine's Issue 2, in which writer and curator, Elizabeth Rooklidge, talks to the founder of The Nightstand Collective, Emma Jones. 

A series of images of the public interacting with ‘The Nightstand Collective’ installation at the V&A Museum. People are seen within a large circular wooden dome like structure, interacting with images hanging down on wire at differing levels around the space. There are some people standing and others are sitting on a bench that surrounds the inside. Within the structure there are small blue fairy lights dangling down and there is a circular rug in the centre of the dome with a small black nightstand. On the nightstand are various personal objects including items associated with or part of having a chronic illness or disability.

The installation was created in collaboration with The Nightstand Collective and its chronically ill contributors. For this project, artist Emma Jones fields submissions from around the world, of people sharing images and written words about their bedroom nightstands, which serve as a viewfinder into the lived and intimate experience of chronic and long-term illness. In our exhibition, we invited the public to consider the items we keep on our nightstands and to explore the significance of the objects we keep close in times of sickness and rest. 

Whilst in the space, people were encouraged to spend time reading and engaging with the individually printed photos and writing about nightstands hanging down from the dome structure, and listen to the audio piece created by our team of the interview found in Issue 2. 

The evening was incredible, and it was amazing to see the general public interacting with Able Zine and disability content around such a historic and culturally important space. A special thank you to all of those in the Able community that dropped in to say hi and explore the exhibition. The Able Team would also like to thank the V&A Museum for the opportunity to share our work and celebrate the brilliant work of all those involved in the project. 

A series of images of the public interacting with ‘The Nightstand Collective’ installation at the V&A Museum. People are seen within a large circular wooden dome like structure, interacting with images hanging down on wire at differing levels around the space. There are some people standing and others are sitting on a bench that surrounds the inside. Within the structure there are small blue fairy lights dangling down and there is a circular rug in the centre of the dome with a small black nightstand. On the nightstand are various personal objects including items associated with or part of having a chronic illness or disability.

A series of images of the public interacting with ‘The Nightstand Collective’ installation at the V&A Museum. People are seen within a large circular wooden dome like structure, interacting with images hanging down on wire at differing levels around the space. There are some people standing and others are sitting on a bench that surrounds the inside. Within the structure there are small blue fairy lights dangling down and there is a circular rug in the centre of the dome with a small black nightstand. On the nightstand are various personal objects including items associated with or part of having a chronic illness or disability.

A series of images of the public interacting with ‘The Nightstand Collective’ installation at the V&A Museum. People are seen within a large circular wooden dome like structure, interacting with images hanging down on wire at differing levels around the space. There are some people standing and others are sitting on a bench that surrounds the inside. Within the structure there are small blue fairy lights dangling down and there is a circular rug in the centre of the dome with a small black nightstand. On the nightstand are various personal objects including items associated with or part of having a chronic illness or disability.

A series of images of the public interacting with ‘The Nightstand Collective’ installation at the V&A Museum. People are seen within a large circular wooden dome like structure, interacting with images hanging down on wire at differing levels around the space. There are some people standing and others are sitting on a bench that surrounds the inside. Within the structure there are small blue fairy lights dangling down and there is a circular rug in the centre of the dome with a small black nightstand. On the nightstand are various personal objects including items associated with or part of having a chronic illness or disability.

A series of images of the public interacting with ‘The Nightstand Collective’ installation at the V&A Museum. People are seen within a large circular wooden dome like structure, interacting with images hanging down on wire at differing levels around the space. There are some people standing and others are sitting on a bench that surrounds the inside. Within the structure there are small blue fairy lights dangling down and there is a circular rug in the centre of the dome with a small black nightstand. On the nightstand are various personal objects including items associated with or part of having a chronic illness or disability.

Photography by Hydar Dewachi

Article written by Elizabeth Rooklidge

The Nightstand Collective curated by Emma Jones

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Coal Drops Yard Outdoor Exhibition (2021)

An event poster for the launch of the exhibition. A miniature set of a bedroom with a pink bed frame in the centre with a movable table covering the width of the bed with painting materials on top. The room has wooden floorboards with dark green walls, green polka dot potted plants, a nightstand with a pink tea cup and rabbit vibrator. To the left of the room is a white bed harness, two crutches against the wall and a leopard print wheelchair are in the centre. The blue and white text, from top to bottom reads, "See You At Home” and "9th July 6-9PM”, "Outdoor Exhibition Street Party @Kiosk N1C - Coal Drops Yard" "Please ensure you follow current Covid-19 guidelines"

To celebrate the launch of Issue 2, we were invited to display imagery from our iconic ‘See You At Home’ editorial in the wonderfully accessible location of Coal Drops Yard, N1, London. For one month, imagery from the magazine and text-based graphics created especially for the light boxes sat on display in Coal Drops Yard, a thriving cultural hub in the heart of central London.

An image of the first lightbox at the outdoor exhibition. It shows a title and text describing the exhibition on one side, and on the other, a portrait photograph of model Charlie using an adaptive haircomb and looking directly into the camera

With this opportunity we chose to highlight the beauty of disabled people and an aspirational world in which accessibility and functionality exist in harmony with our daily experiences.

The next lightbox shows a photo of Charlie on one side in a bathroom style set, using a shower chair and toilet stool. She is draped in a bath towel and wearing pale crocs. to the right is another photo of the miniature bathroom designed by Lucy Drew Bell, featuring pink walls and decor and a wheelchair accessible sink top

The concept behind the editorial was to demonstrate the idea of both functionality and modern design within the home space. This concept is represented through the miniature sets we commissioned, created by the talented artist, Lucy Drew Bell, to bring to life the ideal accessible home environment for our models. Featuring models that represent a spectrum of visible and invisible disabilities, it showcases adaptive clothing brands and assistive devices designed to allow disabled individuals maximum independence and aesthetic freedom in life. 

A photograph of a lightbox that shows a miniature model set of a bedroom. The bedroom is covered in unique decorations. It has a bed in the middle with a movable bed desk above, covered in art materials. There is also a leopard print wheelchair, crutches and a bed hoist in the room. On the floor is a fluffy zebra print rug. Outside of the lightbox theres a concrete wall and three trees/plants sat infront of the lightbox.

The text-based graphics were created in collaboration with graphic designer Menko Dijksterhuis to create positive messaging about disability and our work, amongst the general public.

A photo of a young woman with a blue cane standing in front of two lightboxes taking photos on her phone.

Together we created a word search exploring key themes within the new Issue and the themes that follow us throughout our lives as disabled people such as “ingenuity”, “community” and “care”. 

A lightbox surrounded by plants with two distinct sides. One side is a typography design in the style of a Venn diagram. Using large curved text and intersecting gradients, the top curve says ‘DISABILITY’, the bottom curve says ‘ACCESSIBILITY’ and inside the middle says ‘CREATIVITY’. On the right side of the print there is an editorial image of a young disabled man called Deniz. Deniz is Turkish with short dark hair and a slight moustache. He is seated in an electric wheelchair on a bright yellow rug, with a copy of Able Zine issue 1 flicked open on his lap.

Next we created a Venn diagram illustrating how the quality that exists at the core of disability/accessibility is the need for creative thinking.

A close up of the text venn diagram

Lastly we used interwoven typography to provide a layered message. The typography reads “DISABILITY IS BEAUTIFUL” in red and “ACCESS IS BEAUTIFUL” in yellow because disability cannot be celebrated without consideration towards access.

A woman is sat on a table facing away from the camera. In front of her in the centre is a lightbox containing two sides. On one side we see the back of a woman's head. Her hair is creatively parted revealing a large scar straight down her back. Beneath the scar is a necklace that reads "Disabled & Proud." adjacent is typography reading “DISABILITY IS BEAUTIFUL” in red, whilst also reading “ACCESS IS BEAUTIFUL” in yellow

Having been given this opportunity for space and publicity in the center of London, we knew it wouldn’t be right to promote disability, without the promotion of accessibility. This is something that is frequently missed out in wider societal marketing around disability inclusion. The impact this has is mixed and not always beneficial because representation isn’t enough if it isn’t followed by meaningful action on how we can improve the lives and opportunities of the disabled community at large.

A big thank you to the entire team that made this possible:

Models Deniz Eskisan, Charlie Fitz and Oscar Vinter

Photography by David PD Hyde 

Styling by Beatriz Maues 

Assisted by Sarah Baala 

Makeup and Hair by Georgia Hope 

Miniatures by Lucy Drew Bell 

Set design and creative direction by Able Zine

Typography by Menko Dijksterhuis

Graphic design by Tino Mara 

Special thanks to @kiosk_n1c @coaldropsyard

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Life Drawing Event (2020)


Shortly before the first Covid-19 lockdown we had the pleasure of running a life drawing workshop with two amazing models- Miss Jacqui and Kat Hawkins. Here is a heart-warming recap of the intimate evening. Thank you to our co-host Indigo and our venue host and stockist Kiosk N1C.