Bucko in conversation with Sandra Abma

Bucko in conversation with Sandra Abma
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 7PM
Club SAW (67 Nicholas Street, Ottawa)

Free admission and cash bar

Onsite accessibility support will be provided by Whimble and will be available upon request. We kindly ask that you wear a mask during the talk. Masks will be provided free of charge.

For more information on parking, public transit and accessibility, please click here.

Join us for an engaging conversation between artist Bucko and veteran CBC arts reporter Sandra Abma, held in conjunction with the survey exhibition Bucko Art Machine, on view until May 10, 2025. Presented in collaboration with Debaser, the evening will include a listening session featuring Bucko’s music to mark the launch of Club SAW’s new state-of-the-art sound system, generously funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Government of Ontario. Lucille Collard, MPP for Ottawa–Vanier, will be in attendance to offer remarks on the OTF’s support.

About the exhibition

Chris Binkowski, widely known as Bucko, is a celebrated artist, writer, composer, performer and activist who defies convention and constantly reshapes the artistic landscape in Ottawa and beyond. This immersive exhibition highlights his multifaceted career, showcasing acrylic and digital paintings, video art, soundscapes, music and costumes, alongside his collaborative works.

Performing under the moniker Bucko Art Machine, he has made his mark as a songwriter and musician and has collaborated with many influential artists over the years, including Marisa Gallemit, Shania Leblanc, VJ Cinetik, Eliza Niemi and Nick Schofield, with public performances at venues and events such as Tangled Art + Disability, the Art Gallery of Guelph, Pique, SAW and the Digital Arts Resource Centre. With an insatiable drive for innovation, Bucko continually discovers new ways to engage with audiences, sharing his creative vision across a wide range of media.

Bucko’s multidisciplinary works communicate profound emotions, personal narratives and universal themes of resilience, struggle and joy. Through his practice, Bucko bridges the gap between disability and boundless artistic expression, offering viewers a transformative and deeply moving experience. While he may not identify as a poet, titles of works such as every day i spin around the joys and get squeezed like toothpaste by all the troubles and shocks that come by between or the thrill and glamour all stopped with the beat disappearing stand out as poignant and beautifully crafted elegies in their own right.

Living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Bucko explores inventive ways to create art and music despite limited mobility, utilizing digital technologies and adaptive instruments to bring his vibrant ideas to life. One of the main challenges of living with a disability is facing exclusion and isolation. Bucko’s art practice has always been motivated by the need to communicate on a personal level and to access community.

In addition to his artistic achievements, Bucko has demonstrated exceptional commitment to community engagement and accessibility advocacy. He served as a lead coordinator for StopGap Ottawa, an organization that builds custom ramps for local businesses and cultural institutions, improving accessibility for people with mobility challenges. Bucko also co-founded the Accessibility Team for Ottawa’s Bluesfest and CityFolk music festivals, where he continues to provide consultation, fostering inclusivity in the local cultural scene. His advocacy work extends to his past role on the Board of Directors for BEING Studio in Ottawa, a creative space for artists with disabilities. He was also a keynote speaker at BEING’s Artist Connect symposium, where he shared his insights on disability arts and community building. His work celebrates resilience, creativity and the power of collaboration, making him an important voice in both the art world and the accessibility movement.

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