S4DAC
LINKS
Copyright 2003-05
Society for Disability Arts & Culture
S4DAC
LINKS
Copyright 2003-05
Society for Disability Arts & Culture
Mark September 16th to 19th, 2004 in your calendars! That’s when we’ll be presenting another exciting celebration of disability arts and culture at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver, BC. It will be a four-day event, similar in format to the kickstART! Celebration in 2001, with opportunities to meet other artists, participate in workshops, view visual art, dance, theatre and comedy, listen to music and generally have a great time!
The call to artists will be sent out this Fall. If you received this newsletter directly from us, you’ll receive the call. If you had this newsletter forwarded to you by someone else and you want to be sure to receive the call and registration information directly, send an email to info@s4dac.org to be put on our email list.
Borg Again: reframing cyborg culture is the title of our upcoming art exhibit on a cyborg theme. It will be mounted at the Pendulum Gallery in Downtown Vancouver from December 9th, 2003 to January 17th, 2004. The opening reception, with performances by some of the artists, will be on Thursday, December 11th.
Here are preliminary descriptions of what the artists have in mind...
Marilyn Cherenko - experimental drawing
This project will explore aspects of my experience viewed through (and
subverting) the lens of cyborg doxology. Basic premise: dissassembly-reassembly.
The basic
approach will be several images with text, wall-hung as in presentation boards
for pitching a film. The images will be developed from aspects or parts of
my experience. It's up to the viewer to reassemble the cyborg out of the "parts".
Born Naked from Outside the Lines II
Shaira Holman - installation, photography and found objects
with the Big Boys (oh damn I left my penis at home) will be a photo-based
installation about the intersection of gender, disability and technology in
my life. Walls at the gallery will be arranged to create a small room, with
an entrance/passageway/maze at one end. Viewers will have to intentionally
enter the space to see the images - casual passersby will not see them. Ideas
of gender, normality and disability will be incorporated in the installation,
perhaps in a fragmented text form.
Emma Kivisild - sculpture and multi-media
I plan to explore the nature of the cyborg in my life as a person with
Multiple Sclerosis. While I now use some mechanical objects to enhance
my abilities
(cane, phone, computer), and anticipate using more as my condition progresses
(wheelchair or scooter, for instance), at the moment I use organic cyborgs.
That is, the cyborg functions I need to use are performed by the people close
to me. This human community is my stair rails, and leaning posts, and grab
bars. Some of my ideas for a visual art piece about this are: fictitious
sales brochures, and exploration of the mechanical aids these people
are and use.
Velveeta Krisp - performance and installation
In this installation/performance I will explore the world as dysfunctional
cyborg. In collaboration with artist Natalie Purshwitz, I will create
cyborg identities via costumes, which will be displayed in the gallery. At
specified times, I will come to the gallery, put on costumes and perform
outside, within a one block radius of the gallery. The performances will
explore the
possibility of shifting the rules of social interaction — a small adventure
outside the prevailing paradigm of technological and bio-chemical "fixes" for
disability.
Buz Onezed - installation and performance
In this performance/interventions by onezed (a character based on reality
TV), text about things that piss me off about cyborg life, and Xrays
of my cyborg
body will be incorporated into the installation, as will spinalcordcam.com
and an interactive electric wheelchair. I will perform in the wheechair during
the opening, with a palm-pilot device that can turn the video on and off,
control a pneumatic arm similar to the Canada arm in space, but smaller.
Cleo Pawson - painting, fabric, sculpture, mixed media
I am a reluctant “cyborg”. My art is a way that I dialogue with my “otherness” which
I see as a part of me. My piece will consist of five works, three gouache
paintings on watercolour paper, a button blanket and a 3-d mixed
media wall sculpture.
Naufus Ramirez-Figueroa & Irene Loughlin - installation
and performance
There is a large, green astroturf square floor mat, and two tents
on the east and west side of this astroturfed area. Inside each tent
are white sleeping
bags with pillows. The centre astroturfed area evokes the “happy outdoors” idealized
by popular culture. Two clear plastic tents have red vinyl, medical Swiss
crosses. Under the crosses is a line of clear plastic pockets with an anti
depressant
pill in each pocket, with each day of the week, similar to pill organizers.
The performance will revolve around these props. Each artist will interact
with the props and play with the difference between the medicalization and
sterility of the tents, and drug-induced hyperactivity in the artificial
outdoors.
Garth Homer Group in Victoria, BC
The first of a series of workshops in dance and theatre, which will culminate in an original performance to premiere at kickstART2, will be held in early November, 2003 at the Roundhouse Community Centre. We will be back in touch with everyone on our list once we’ve got a fixed date.This first workshop will be a day-long exploration of movement and dance, led by Helen Walkley.
Helen Walkley is an independant performer, choreographer, improviser and teacher based in Vancouver, BC. Currently she is an Artist in Residence at the Dance Centre. Her somatic approach is based in Laban Movement Analysis, the Bartenieff Fundamentals and the Developmenal Movement Patterns from the Body Mind Centering. Helen has performed and taught extensively throughout Canada, Europe and the U.S.
Lorna Boschman, our General Manager and Web Developer has been very busy over the last several months building a new site for us. Now you can check it out at www.s4dac.org.
Society for Disability Arts and Culture members who are artists may request a page with a brief bio and example of their work, and a link to their own page if they have one. If you've got your own website, we can add it to our links. In fact, we'd like to exchange links. Contact Lorna by email at manager@s4dac.org for information.
The Swamp Angels Co-Directors, Susan Summers and Patti Powell, and Artistic Director Geoff McMurchy are planning an exciting program for the Fall. It will include refining our repertoire and honing our performance skills, as well as exploring new musical influences by bringing in new and interesting musicians, vocal coaches, directors and/or soundscape artists.
Our plans are all subject to funding, of course (as is everything we do), but we’re nothing if not optimistic!
The choir is open to anyone regardless of experience, so why not not come and join us for some spirit-lifting and community-building musical fun?
Swamp Angels Choir with Pat Rix
Stay tuned for more details in September, or contact us by email at info@s4dac.org if you're interested.
Our 2001 kickstART! Celebration of Disability Arts and Culture inspired Philip Patston, a comedian and kickstART! participant from New Zealand, to write:
"Art and performance... are magic and creative forces. Mix them with the experience of disability and they become a miraculous expression of the illusion of limitation and proof of the existence of infinite human potential".
Now you can catch the flavour and excitement of kickstART! by getting your own 13-minute video, "KickstART!: A Celebration". S4DAC is offering the video, packaged with our handbook for artists with disabilities "Art Smarts", to individuals for a suggested donation of $35. For more information on individual orders, contact us at the S4DAC office, 604.685.3368 or email info@s4dac.org.
Organizations and institutions can contact our distributor, VTape, directly. Their price is higher ($100 plus taxes and shipping) for the package because they allow you to show the video to a larger variety of people. For example, this may include licensing for use in public or school libraries. Broadcast inquiries may also be directed to VTape in Toronto.
Vtape
401 Richmond Street West, Suite 452,
Toronto, Ontario M5V 3A8
Wanda vanderStoop, Managing Director
wandav@vtape.org
tel 416 351-1317
fax 416 351-1509
www.vtape.org
Two-dimensional Art Exhibition and Sale
D. Carrier Gallery (Toronto)
October 21 - November 21, 2003
Abilities Festival will present a group exhibition to showcase the talent of artists with disabilities. Up to 70 works may be selected including up to three works by each artist.
All entries must be in by August 30, 2003. Forms available at http://enablelink.org/abilitiesfestival/Festival.html.
A maximum of 3 slides or photographs, which are available for exhibition, showing recent work. If possible explain how your work relates to the theme of the exhibition. A self-addressed envelop is required if you want your slides returned to you. All work must be original and not previously shown at the Carrier Gallery. The suggested maximum size of the paintings is 30" X 40" decisions will be made by September 15, 2003. will be notified by mail. Other details and requirements of the exhibition will be included with your acceptance notification.
Works is to arrange delivery to the Gallery on or before October 15, 2003 Entries that are accepted for exhibition must remain on display until November 22, 2003. The Gallery will provide insurance for all exhibited works while on Gallery premises and in transition. will be awarded. Details are forthcoming.
Carrier Gallery takes a 20% commission for handling the sales of the art. A value must be given to the work even if it is not for sale. Abilities Festival is a project of the Canadian Abilities Foundation.
absolute theatre company presents: SPIRALING WITHIN
Commissioned by the Canadian Mental Health Association
Spiraling Within is an odyssey into the mind of a young woman. Kayla "pops" her pills of choice and "trips" through bus rides, raves and psych wards.
Written and performed by S. Siobhan McCarthy, Spiraling Within is a bold, innovative multi-media one- woman show that combines statistics, dance, movement and darkly humored scenes to explore mental illness and examine the system from the inside out. The play explores the issues that surround Depression, Anxiety, Bi-Polar Disorder, Psychosis and the ways in which these are dealt with by society, families and individuals. Adapted from the enormously successful Who Are You Calling Crazy!?!, Spiraling Within guarantees to stimulate, educate and entertain both youth and adults alike.
Media Contact: Katrina Kadoski (250) 598-1997
katrina@pacificmusic.net
S. Siobhan McCarthy (604)263-1859 or (604) 842-6663 (cell phone)info on shows
at the Victoria Fringe Festival 2003, contact the Fringe Hotline (250) 383-2663
or visit www.intrepidtheatre.commore info (Vancouver & Vernon dates) contact www.whoareyoucallingcrazy.com
Pain Group presents an evening of creative political change and inspiration grounded in community, a preamble to the Window Pain Group Art Show, which will be held in the fall.
Window Pain Project grows from an outraged disabled population, which is under an attack of astounding proportions. They are a part of a government-lead re-assessment. In response 19 disability level 2 and level 1 recipients will collaborate on an art exhibit that asks the question, "How has the government re-assessment process affected your life?"
What: a political community event to ignite communities into creative action to counter government cuts, which are drastically affecting the disenfranchised communities
When: August 23, 2003, doors open 6pm, show starts 7pm at the Carnegie Center 401 Main
We are currently seeking closeted soap box stars, spoken word artists, poets, performance artists, beat box.to create works (or use work you have) around the theme of government cuts focusing on your visions of solutions, what we can do creatively to counter this attack! Tell the tale and end with what you think the solutions are or can be, in your wildest dreams.
The evening will also feature a Slam Poet event, and diverse political speakers who will speak on the topic. We are also looking for financial support from those who are able to provide a boost to enable us to present this evening and the subsequent art show. To make a donation or for more information, contact Kym Hothead at 604-253-0613.
We assume that you have an interest in what the Society for Disability Arts and Culture is up to (or it could be that we’re trying to convince you to take an interest!)
If you’d like to be removed from our email or mailing list, just send us an email to info@s4dac.org and we’ll take you off the list.
