Harper College will be closed on Tuesday, November 3, for Election Day.
Harper College alumna Reveca Torres (A.A. '02) is bringing a thoughtful reflection on the relationship between creative expression and the complexity of life with a disability to the big screen. Her feature documentary, While We Are Here, made its world premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival in October, screening as part of the festival's Disability in Focus program in partnership with the University of Illinois Chicago.
Through a tapestry of letters, journals and artwork, Torres creates a dialogue between the work of celebrated artists Frida Kahlo, Vincent van Gogh and Henri Matisse and the experiences of contemporary Chicago artists with disabilities, including Matt Bodett, Maggie Bridger and Genevieve Ramos. By connecting the lives and work of these artistic figures across generations, the film challenges conventional perceptions of disability and celebrates the creativity, identity and community that emerge through lived experiences.
Torres also brings a distinctive visual perspective to the documentary. Filming from a personal point of view, she attaches the camera to her wheelchair using specially designed mounts, capturing the world through tracking shots, 360-degree pivots and unique framing. The result is a deeply personal exploration of art, identity and the many ways people experience and express the world around them.
Torres' journey as an artist and filmmaker has been shaped by her own experiences. At age 13, an automobile accident left her paralyzed. In 1999, she enrolled at Harper College, where she became the first student using a wheelchair to complete the fashion design program. She earned her associate degree in 2002 before continuing her education at the University of Arizona, where she received a bachelor's degree in theater arts in 2004.
In 2009, Torres founded Backbones, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing one-to-one support for individuals with spinal cord injuries. Through her work as an artist, filmmaker and advocate, she has continued to create opportunities for others, raise awareness and expand perspectives on disability. Her latest accomplishment with While We Are Here demonstrates how she uses creativity and personal experience to inspire and bring communities together.