Photograph of Alison Bergblom Johnson, 2023.

Alison Bergblom Johnson is an artist whose work explores disability and joy. She collaborates with numerous community care and art organizations (some examples: Fresh Eye Gallery, Strike Theater, the Loft Literary Center, Springboard for the Arts, and the Walker Art Center). With Mixed Blood Theatre she created a theater piece with other people with disabilities about disabled lives. Her collage, storytelling and essays often approach taboo topics (disability, sexuality) in inclusive ways.

Topics in Alison's work include the Craigslist personals, traumatic experiences including sexual violence, gender, mental health treatment in a historic sense, and the stories we tell ourselves and our loved ones about taboo experiences.

Alison is an artist-organizer, a disabled artist, an essayist, a collage artist, a theater artist. She is an independent artist.

Partnerships

Springboard for the Arts' national platform Creative Exchange covered how Alison approaches partnerships. Some of the organizations Alison has current or recent projects with include Springboard for the Arts, the Loft Literary Center, and the Minnesota Historical Society's Gale Library.

Public Speaking

Lectures

• Speaker, “On Ableism,” Fireweed Community Woodshop. Minneapolis, MN. May 23, 2024.
• Lecture. Letters Never Sent: The Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN. Nov 19, 2023.
• Speaker. "Curation and Disability Justice," Art for All: The Stephanie Evelo Program for Art Inclusion at the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota. Part of Art Glow Exhibition at Northrup King Building, Minneapolis, MN. See exhibitions in projects section
• Speaker. “On Ableism.” Wilder Foundation Employees. Apr 29, 2021.
• Reading of MPR Essay for MCTC Trio graduation
• Presenter. NAMI Minnesota State Conference, "Writing Mental Illness." St. Paul, MN. 2010.

Panels: Speaking, Facilitation & Design

• Panelist. “Performing Arts for Change,” Leadership St. Paul’s Arts & Entertainment Day, an initiative of the of the St. Paul Area Chamber. Alongside Maia Maiden (Ordway Center), Wesley Mouri (Theater Mu), and facilitator Suchi Sairam. May 9th.
• Facilitator, Curator. With Us: Artists with Disabilities on Adapting Technology for Us, Springboard for the Arts, St. Paul, MN. May 7, 2024.
• Facilitator, Curator. With Us: Artists with Disabilities on Caring for Ourselves and Our Communities, Springboard for the Arts, St. Paul, MN. Feb 27, 2024.
• Facilitator, Curator. With Us: Artists with Disabilities on Joy, Springboard for the Arts, St. Paul, MN Guests included Chris Martin and others from Unrestricted Interest. Jan 31, 2023.
• Facilitator, Curator. Artists with Disabilities Creating Access to Mainstream Spaces, Springboard for the Arts, St. Paul, MN. Apr 19, 2022.
• Panelist. Community Conversation on Working as an Artist with a Disability. Northfield Arts Guild and St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN. 2015.

Teaching

selected

• Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Education Department. Teaching Artist. Videos on YouTube Education Channel
• Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN. Teaching Artist. Sensory Friendly Sunday Artmaking. Dec 8, 2024 & Feb 9, 2025.
• The Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis, MN. Teaching Artist. Classes include Writing Experimental Essays (Sep 18, 2024 - Oct 23, 2024), and Internet Research for Nonfiction Writers, Memoirists, Biographers and Family Historians (Feb 22, 2025-Mar 1, 2025). 2024-Present.
• Springboard for the Arts, St. Paul, MN. Facilitate the Work of Art Curriculum, which covers business skills for artists. Presented approximately monthly or twice monthly, sometimes in collaboration with partner organizations, including Hennepin County Libraries, Playwrights’ Center, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, St. Olaf College and others. Remote and in-person sessions. 2020 - Present.

Residencies, Fellowships and Other Honors

• Gale Family Library Research Fellowship. “The Patient Records of 12 Female Patients Transferred to Fergus Falls State Hospital on Valentines Day 1899 as a Window into Physician’s Beliefs and Practices.” Minnesota Historical Society. St. Paul, MN. Jul 1, 2024-Jun 30, 2025.
• Gale Family Library Research Fellowship. “The Letters of Lydia B. Angier.” Minnesota Historical Society. St. Paul, MN 2022 - 2023.
• Round 2 (semi-finalist), Creative Capital Award. Creative Capital, New York City, 2020.
• FUNeral Director, Patrick’s Cabaret, Minneapolis, MN. Served on the committee presenting the Cabaret’s closing show, 2018.
• Arts Retreat. New York Mills Regional Cultural Center, New York Mills, MN. Funded, including stipend, by the Jerome Foundation. May 2009.
• Writer Residency. Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT. Work Exchange Award. March 2009.

Juror for Exhibitions & Fellowship and for Grant Programs

• Juror. Chronicles of the Chronic. Curated by Zoe Cinel. Rochester Art Center, Rochester Minnesota. 2023.
• Juror. (with Keisha Williams and Alexandra Buffalohead). 2020-21 Fellows, Emerging Curators Institute, Minneapolis. 2020.
• Panelist. Arts Access Grant. Metropolitan Regional Art Council, St. Paul, MN. 2020.
• Judge. Artability Writing Contest, St. Paul, MN. 2013.

Current Professional Memberships

• Playwrights' Center
• Nemaa, North East Minneapolis Artists Association
• Authors Guild
• National Writers Union