Exhibition projects

Climate Stories

Global Museum SFSU

Designer for an exhibition on the impact of climate change on indigenous peoples around the world. Four themes feature beautiful works from communities in Australia, Brazil, Alaska and Papua New Guinea from the GM collection alongside loans from the California Academy of Sciences, as well as current scientific research from the Harry D. Thiers Herbarium and academics at SFSU. Low-tech interactive exhibits prompt visitors to reflect on climate change in their own lives and their positive actions going forward. https://develop.sfsu.edu/global-museum-opens-climate-stories-show

Changemakers: Bay Area Disability Pride

San Mateo County Libraries and San Francisco Public Library

Fran was the curator for Changemakers: Bay Area Disability Pride which began as a traveling exhibit for the San Mateo County Library system in 2019 and at the Skylight Gallery of the San Francisco Public Library in early 2020. www.disabilitychangemakers.org The exhibit features over 50 portraits of local people with disabilities nominated by their peers for making a significant difference in their communities. The website features audio description of each portrait, while the exhibit has large print text, a Braille binder and a tactile portrait to explore the valuable contributions of local disabled people. Programming included art workshops, discussion groups and dance performances. The portraits were all commissioned from artists with disabilities from Creativity Explored, NIAD, ArtReach for The Arc, Artful Steps and the Pomeroy Center.

Patient No More

Ed Roberts Campus

Curator and graphic designer for an accessible exhibition about the “Section 504 Sit-In” by a group of over 100 people with disabilities and their allies in San Francisco in 1977. Featuring video interviews with those who were there, the exhibit captures the spirit of the time and charts the unfolding events that would lead to the first civil rights legislation for people with disabilities. For current locations and the project website visit the website of the Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability at SF State University. 

  • A view of the Rotunda at the Ed Roberts Center, with mural in the background
  • Visitors include many wheelchair riders at the Ed Roberts Campus on opening day
  • Detail of photo station where visitors pose with their own protest slogan sign
  • Intro stations in the Rotunda at the Ed Roberts Campus features a short captioned video
  • A 1970s typewriter to highlight how far accessibility has come, though there is still "Room for improvement"
  • Audio recordings of victory speeches are also performed by ASL
  • Braille rail detail with red button to activate the video
  • For non-visual access two poets were commissioned to write an interpretation of the mural, available for download on the project website
  • Intro video features oral histories and vintage footage of the 504 protest
  • The Bullhorn station encouraged people to record their own slogan

Click this link to hear the Pushing Limits, KPFA program hosted by Edward Ytuarte about the creation of “Patient No More”, including an interview with Fran Osborne and 504 protester Dennis Billups. 

DIS/PLAY: A disability take-over

SOMArts, San Francisco

Curator and designer for an exhibition featuring the work of 35 artists with and without disabilities and programming for 3 accessible events. For the SOMArts archive page and list of participating artists please visit this SOMArts link.

  • Large text states: "DIS/PLAY: A Disability Take-over Show
  • Paintings from the Venus series by Katherine Sherwood
  • "Safe to touch" by Artful Steps Program in San Leandro
  • Humpty's Rehabilitation: a photographic series by Anthony Tusler
  • Installation of skateboard art and musical instruments by the Cypress Schooling Petaluma
  • Quilt celebrating women of color with disabilities by Corbett OToole and "I have a Dream" quilts and ceramics by Raven Harper, from NIAD
  • Asian American Steve Lee performing at the Opening Night of DIS/PLAY, with ASL interpretation
  • Work by Darrin Martin
  • Magic Tree Installation by Art Reach Program of the Arc in SF
  • Sculptures by Casper Banjo
  • Deaf Eye, color linocut by DeVia artist David Call

Shaw House

Newbury, Berkshire UK

Design and exhibit development for permanent history exhibits and mobile interactive STEM educational units, tracing the history and restoration of the families who built and owned a Tudor merchant’s house, was involved in a skirmish in the English Civil War, and a High School mid 20th century.