Constructing James Castle features selections from the art of James Castle (1899-1977), a self-trained, deaf artist who spent his life in rural Idaho. This selection focuses mostly on works that demonstrate the impact of Castle's 5-year education with the Gooding (Idaho State) School for the Deaf and Blind between 1910–1915. Though during his five years at the Gooding School he was declared "uneducable" and "illiterate," he communicated the impact of his time there through his diverse artwork that was based, in part, on the trades, training, and experiences he gained from the Gooding School. His self-taught skill is a testament not only to his intelligence and ability, but also his artistry. Featuring just a small portion of Castle's collection of works, this exhibition asks viewers to consider how deafness and disability intersect with and generate the creation of art, as well as the value of found materials as a medium in art making. Curated by Brenda Brueggemann, Professor at The Ohio State University in English and Disability Studies. Works in the exhibition are loaned to Urban Arts Space from the James Castle Collection and Archive in Boise, Idaho.
