Picasso PRO, a long-term project, was formed to facilitate genuine opportunity for artists with disabilities and Deaf artists in the performing and media arts. It springs from the passionate conviction that Deaf and disabled artists belong on Canada's stages and screens and among our audiences, professional staffs, teachers and cultural leaders. Since 1993, Picasso PRO, originally called DIS THIS!, has enjoyed five programming cycles under the management of Rose Jacobson. Picasso PRO offers an evolving program of skills development, artist support, networking, creation, collaboration and services for the up and coming professional. All activities are grounded in a strong commitment to the artists' creative, professional and human rights. Our current program is in collaboration with Creative Trust, made possible through a province-wide grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario.
On Sunday, April 25th at Creative Trust headquarters, fifteen dynamic American Sign Language Interpreters , members of the Ontario Association of Sign Language Interpreters joined facilitators Joanna Bennett, [senior ASL/English Interpreter, specializing in performance work] and Rose Jacobson [P. PRO’s Project Manager], in a ground-breaking session to talk shop about the specialized field of Theatrical Interpretation. Our aim over time is to build informed, creative and workable professional relationships among theatre practitioners and interpreters working in live performance.
A catered ‘meet & greet’ was followed by an overview of current activity in production and performance interpreting in Toronto and the growing creation of access in theatre. Rose spoke from the theatre community perspective followed by Joanna who offered a strong, lively presentation from her seasoned perspective as a Theatrical Interpreter with concrete examples, recommended tools and links.
The second part of the roundtable took its cues from the participants whose input is essential. We discussed how to forecast and prepare for change and how to manage growing demand for interpreting services for the theatre and other arts-related events, workshops, etc. Everything from budgeting to scheduling was considered.
Everyone learned and engaged with enthusiasm and a real generosity of spirit when exploring best practices. We’we set up communications for continued dialogue and polled those present for their interest in working with the Sun Life Arts Access Program. The response was very positive.
‘Building Bridges’ was an opportunity for emerging and practicing Interpreters to become more involved in the setting of theatre production and performance. The session was free of charge and part of Picasso PRO/CT’s ongoing initiatives through the generous support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation Province-wide Program & our Sun Life Financial Arts Access Program.
Eight intrepid Describers- in-the-making emerged from a successful 3 day workshop with dynamic California-based specialist Deborah Lewis, March 26-28th at the Centre for Social Innovation. Our ‘inductees’ are Peter Cavell, Krista Dalby, Jane Field, Kat Germain, Kat Leonard, Elizabeth Saunders, Rebecca Singh and Aaron Talbot. In addition Durelle Harford McAllister and Wanda Fitzgerald have acted throughout as expert audience members and as artists, providing important feedback from the Blind/low-vision perspectives.
With the support of Artistic Director Ken Gass, Managing Producer Sara Meurling, and the frontline guidance and support of Associate Producer Andre du Toit and Administrative Coordinator Wanda Fitzgerald, our training team was immediately welcomed in to Factory’ Theatre’s environment to audit a first reading, rehearsals and performances of Factory’s current production of ‘Featuring Loretta” by George F. Walker. Yev Falkovich, Associate Director has also provided valuable information about the production.
We also plan to try-out new audio-description equipment during the run of the show. This practicum is prep for a public debut as professional Audio Describers in the fall. Factory Theatre is an obvious first choice for launching the service; we will also approach other Creative Trust member companies to help build a roster of described shows during this pilot phase of our Sun Life Financial Arts Access Program.
A core of Deaf and allied artists will enjoy a reunion of sorts May 13th , 15th and 16th and an intensive 2.5 days of work and discussion with our esteemed colleague Josette Bushell-Mingo, Artistic Director of the Tyst Teater [Silent Theatre] of the Deaf in Sweden while she is in Toronto. Hot on the heels of our one week residency at the Tyst in December 2009 the sessions will enable newly involved artists to join the circle, learn about the work at Tyst and begin our next cycle of exploration this time with a focus on directing, dramaturgy and story creation in Deaf theatre. Original members of the Delegation to Tyst included Picasso PRO Manager Rose Jacobson, Elizabeth Morris, Hayley Hudson, Paula Bath, along with Anna Hardwick, Jovanni Sy and Daryl Cloran who also networked with Swedish theatre peers interested in international collaboration.
Picasso PRO in association with Trinity Square Video has invited gifted media artists and mentors Nancy Viva Davis Halifax and Lindsay Fisher to co-design and lead an innovative Digital Creation Workshop for five invited artists this June. Their guidance will help each artist build an individual mixed-media narrative around personal themes, images and cultural preoccupations to over five sessions, earning to master the necessary software and editing in the process. A screening of their completed short works accompanied by a catalogue will follow. The five artists - Melissa Addison-Webster, Mark Brose, Janna Gorham, Irena Kagansky and Peter Owusu-Ansah - bring a diversity of practices to the process- writing, painting, design, music, videography, photography, performance and strong imaginative worlds! Stay tuned for more details.
Two of Toronto’s most beloved artists and disability rights advocates, Irena Kagansky and Kazumi Tsuruoka, share their love of art and lives with disabilities in a warm-blooded and significant article by Star columnist and well-known performer/writer Diane Flacks [April 16th, 2010].
A must read, keep and share! To access the feature please click on the link below:
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/796785--a-meeting-of-self-directed-minds
Come join us for a warm up to the 2nd annual Hard & Able: celebrating queer disability as part of the weekly FREE party, Granny Boots, at the Gladstone Hotel. Featuring a line-up of queer disabled artists, this FREE party will feature drag performers, singers, and spoken word artists within a wheelchair accessible venue with ASL interpretation provided.
Performers include:Drag singer, Trasharella; Spoken word by Ellen Hibbard; ASL Drag performer Brown Sugar (aka Amanda Davidson); Singer, Lindsay Sarah Czitron; and spoken word agent provocateur, Jay Stewart. Special guests include:Luka Sidaravicius; Ryan G. Hinds; The H & A Dancers
Prizes to be won for audience participation. Music videos with ASL and/or captions will be on throughout the night. Granny Boots is curated by the fabulous, Ryan G. Hinds. Contact jay@ajaystewartproject.com for more information. Coming soon: On June 29th, the 2nd annual Hard & Able: celebrating queer
disability will be a part of Buddies in Bad Times' Queer Pride Festival. www.ajaystewartproject.com
If you want to help organize Mad Pride Week 2010 with the folks at Mad Pride Toronto, join them on Friday, June 4th, June 11th, June 18th, June 25th, July 2nd and July 9th from 3 pm – 5 pm at Parkdale Community Legal Services, 1266 Queen Street West. For more info call Peggy-Gail at 416-531-2411 ext. 247 or
Ruth Ruth at 416-516-4740 or email to friendlyspike@primus.ca. And visit : www.madpridetoronto.blogspot.com
Artistic Director Pierre Tetrault is looking for a wide range of performing artists for future Abilities Arts Festival events and programming. From actors to singers, dancers to magicians, we want to meet you. Integrated arts groups are also welcome.
After registering your interest you’ll be invited to a “meet and greet” where you will have the opportunity to meet our new Artistic Director and board member Shelia Boyd, to introduce your skills (audio, video and live presentations are welcome).
PLEASE CONTACT US BEFORE MAY 20TH TO PARTICIPATE. Email erin@abilitiesartsfestival.org, call 416 531 0100 x236, or fax 416 537 214. Remember to include details about your talent, accessibility requirements and contacts.
This call for submissions is aimed at Canadian artists who are Deaf and/or have a disability that work in visual and media arts, performance art, craft, design, and other new art forms. Artists and art teams of all levels — emerging, mid-career, established professional artists — are welcome to submit. Preference will be given to artists who are situated in the National Capital region. Participants must be Canadian citizens or have landed immigrant status.
The call is offered by the City of Ottawa’s Public Art and Community Arts programs in collaboration with a curatorial team of artists, art historians, scholars and allies who are who are Deaf and/or have a disability.
EXHIBIT THEME: We invite artists to creatively consider and explore how art can be more accessible to a diverse audience, which includes visitors with and without disabilities. To do this we invite artists to create new artwork(s) that reinterpret selected artworks from the City of Ottawa’s Fine Art Collection.
The exhibition theme, Perceptions, encourages submitting artists to explore various aspects of perception — how we understand the world, ourselves, and how we are understood. Phenomenal or physical perceptions may include experiencing the world with/without sound, with/without sight, and through various modes of language, movement, touch, etc. Psychological or cognitive perceptions may include how we believe we are perceived by others, and how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. This reinterpretation should challenge, explore or alter the perceptions of the audience while also creating more accessible art.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 5 p.m.;
For Submission Requirement, Images and Audio descriptions of artworks selected from the City of Ottawa’s Fine Art Collection, and other information, please visit: http://ottawa.ca/residents/arts/for_artists/opportunities/index_en.html.
For ASL and LSQ videos of this Call for Submissions visit: http://vimeo.com/perceptions .
INFORMATION: 613-244-3202; publicartprogram@ottawa.ca
The Glasgow Gallery of Art’s [GoMA] show “A Spot of b) other” in fall 2009 harnessed the experience of several marginalized groups in society – including those within deaf and disabled cultures.
b)other is the title of the artists' collective formed in July 2009 by GoMA's artist-in-residence Sandra Alland comprising artists Stuart Crawford, Nathan Gale, Y. Josephine, Jennie Kermode, Rebecca Pla, Alison Smith, Penny Stenhouse and Kristiane Taylor. Spanning a variety of media this exhibition featured text pieces, photo works and Fingers, a British Sign Language filmed poetry performance by Alison Smith who also has an interesting website about accessibility. http://peskypeople.wordpress.com/ .
To read about the ongoing adventures of "b)other" and "A Spot of b)other", log onto http://www.theskinny.co.uk/article/97462-a-spot-of-bother and see some sample images at http://www.blissfultimes.ca/bother.htm. “b)other makes a zine, films, photos and other visual art. The group is made up of people with mobility issues, mental health and learning disabilities, chronic pain and from the Deaf community.
Sandra Alland a treasured member of Toronto’s indie arts scene is planning to be back in TO by summer 2010 and we hope to find ways to collaborate; she is guaranteed to keep us all on our toes!
This is what Haadd is all about – filling a void for families of adults on the autism spectrum. We are about quality, not quantity. We offer emotional support, information, bursaries and crisis funds, not on a large scale, but enough to make a difference. Those who have joined as their autistic family member has made the transition to adulthood have found Haadd there to offer help in understanding government funding issues, to help them learn about person-centred planning, and to provide deep listening in those difficult times.
Our founding members have contributed close to two decades of energy to Haadd. They gave and received much in those years. As we enter the year 2010, it is time for others to carry the torch: families, friends and professionals who care about the many complex issues facing adults with autism.
Please join us to discuss how we might reach families who do not know about us. Please tell someone you know who has a bit of time to give, or might just contribute by becoming a member. In truth, we need paid members and patrons as much as we need energy. To learn more about Haadd and, in particular, our Joseph Umbrico bursary and grant programme, visit our website at www.haadd.ca .
Shakespeare Link Canada will once again be heading into workshop on their bi-lingual production of Romeo and Juliet for the first two weeks of February. Chris Welsh, Elizabeth Morris and Pete Owusu join Jeffrey Wetsch, Cyrus Lane, Michaela Washburn
and Dana Vranic under the direction of Kennedy C. MacKinnon and Edward Daranyi to work on the translation and adaptation of the script. LKTYP is joining forces with SLC as co-producer. A workshop production of this piece will be open to audiences Fall 2010 and the full production is expected Fall 2011. Stay tuned. www.shakespearelinkcanada.ca
Picasso Pro gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation
