Fault Lines, an exhibition by artists Leala Hewak and Laura Shintani, curated by Claudette Abrams and Sean Lee, was held May 3, 2019–June 15, 2019 at Tangled Art + Disability.

Acceptance of change and change through acceptance—Fault Lines explored processes emblematic of observant insight and growth gained from conditions of challenge and disruption. It approached disturbance with openness and optimism, and challenged problematic and commonly accepted ideas about disability and aesthetics. Using altered photographs, video, fabricated materials, and immersive installations, Leala Hewak and Laura Shintani mindfully embraced ambiguity through spirited works that spoke to lived experiences of neurodiversity and embodied difference. Reclaiming trauma and uncertainty, the artists explored ways of constructively reframing notions of recovery, adjustment, and adaptation.

Fault Lines honoured how these nuanced investigations of brokenness reconcile in relation to the unique formation of identities, experiences, and ways of being. Fault Lines was presented by two leaders in disability and mental health in the arts: Tangled Art + Disability and Workman Arts. Tangled Art + Disability operates Canada’s first disability art gallery, and Workman Arts is a multidisciplinary arts organization that promotes a greater understanding of mental health and addiction issues through creation and presentation.