Able Artists 2013
NOVEMBER 26-28
THE BOX @ H’ART CENTRE
237 Wellington Street
Kingston ON
Professional artists with disabilities and those who support access to the arts from across Canada will come to Kingston to tell stories, share work and open minds.
The forum’s purpose is to raise local, national and international awareness of the value of the arts to people who are Deaf or disabled in order to create meaningful change that will lead to increased access to the arts and appreciation of diverse perspectives and voices.
ABLE ARTISTS 2013 will offer daily sessions, workshops, demonstrations and performances designed to push Kingston’s leaders, arts leadership, academics, social service providers, educators and youth to open up to new ideas that may lead to increased arts engagement in our community.
To register for free sessions: visit www.ableartists2013.eventbrite.ca or call 613-545-1392
For tickets to Justin Hines or Church of 80% Sincerity, call 613-545-1392. Tickets $10, limited tickets available.
AGENDA
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
1:00-1:05pm: Mark Gerretsen, Mayor of Kingston – WELCOME ADDRESS
1:05-1:15pm: Katherine Porter, Executive Director, H’art Centre – PUSH TO OPEN
1:15-1:45pm: David Roche – Inspirational Humorist, British Columbia
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
David Roche is an inspirational humorist, a performer and keynote speaker who has transformed the challenges and gifts of living with a facial disfigurement into a compelling message that has won standing ovations from New Zealand to Moscow, England to Australia, across Canada and the USA including at the White House, the Kennedy Center and the Sydney and Vancouver Olympics Arts Festivals
. Photo credit: Mark McNulty
www.davidroche.com
1:15-1:45pm: Propeller Dance – Integrated Dance Company, Ottawa ON
OUT OF THE BOX
Propeller Dance believes that dance is for all. Propeller promotes artistic diversity by creating powerful, innovative, professional dance works where artistic expression soars. This integrated dance company of six professional dancers of all abilities (Bella Bowes, Robert Chartier, Amelia Griffin, Moni Hoffman, Jessie Huggett, Liz Winkelaar) based in Ottawa, performs in theatres, schools and venues across the region and province. Our core activities include the professional company as well as extensive dance training programs for people of all ages and abilities, outreach and school programs as well. Photo credit: Rachel Gray
www.propellerdance.com
2:50-3:20pm: Melissa Mahady Wilton –Dance Educator, Kingston ON
CRITICAL RESPONSE WORKSHOP
Melissa Mahady Wilton supervises dance programming at H’art Centre. She is also the founder and Director of ConCorpsDance Inclusive Dance Programs, a Kingston-based organization devoted to creating dance programming accessible to all people, regardless of their ages, abilities, or special needs. She is a local inclusive dance educator who holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, and has worked with people with disabilities for over ten years./author_info]
4:00-5:00pm: ABLE ARTISTS: OFF THE RECORD
7:00-8:00pm: David Roche –Inspirational Humorist, British Columbia
PERFORMANCE: CHURCH OF 80% SINCERITY
The Church of 80% Sincerity tracks the inspiring, poignant, wickedly funny and sometimes heart-breaking story of David’s journey from shame to self-acceptance. David’s powerful vignettes and keen observations invite the sweet (and sometimes raucous) laughter that flows from the recognition that we are all flawed and struggling beings. He provides an irresistible and unforgettable glimpse of his (and your) inner beauty and worth, offering profound encouragement in dealing with whatever life brings you.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
9:30-10:30am: Luca “LazyLegz” Patuelli – Legendary B-boy, Montreal QC
NO EXCUSES, NO LIMITS (For Schools)
Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli was born on July 28, 1984 in Montreal, Quebec with Arthrogryposis, a birth defect affecting the bone structure, joint movement, and muscle growth in his legs. As a result, Luca has been walking with crutches from a very young age. He has been dancing (B-boying) since he was 15-years-old and has made a major impact in the Worldwide Breakdance (B-boy) Community. Luca is the founder and creator of the ILL-Abilities™ Crew, the first and only international B-boy crew comprised of the worlds best “ILL-Abled” dancers. The purpose of the ILL-Abilities™ Crew is to show the world that if we are creative and adapt ourselves to any situation than anything is possible, with the idea, No Excuses, No Limits!
www.lazylegz.com
10:45-11:45pm: Jessie Huggett – Dancer, Propeller Dance, Ottawa ON
DANCE IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP (For H’art Participants)
Jessie Huggett is a professional dancer in the Propeller Dance company of Ottawa, Ontario. Jessie leads creative movement and self-expression workshop in the Propeller Dance style.
1:00-1:15pm: AFTERNOON WELCOME
1:15-2:00pm: Thelma Wheatley – Author and Speaker, Toronto ON
THE WAY IT USED TO BE
Thelma Wheatley is the author of
And Neither Have I Wings to Fly and
My Sad Is All Gone: A Family’s Triumph Over Violent Autism. Her award-winning short fiction has been published in a number of literary journals across Canada. Past president of Autism Society Ontario, Peel Region, Wheatley continues to be in demand as a speaker on violence and autism.
www.thelmawheatley.com
2:00-2:45pm: Sara Lige – Founder, Cool Arts Society, Kelowna BC
COOL ARTS: 10 YEARS OF ARTS OPPORTUNITIES
In 2003, Sara founded Cool Arts Society, an independent organization dedicated to providing fine arts opportunities to adults with intellectual disabilities. Cool Arts often collaborates with community partners and engages in projects that promote public interaction. A resident of Kelowna, British Columbia, Sara has Bachelor of Fine Arts and has a studio practice in Kelowna. In 2011, Sara completed her MA; her thesis was titled, “Visual Arts and Adults with Developmental Disabilities in the Community”.
www.coolarts.ca
2:45-3:30pm: Kathryn MacKay – Theatre Director, Box Productions, Kingston ON
A RARE OPPORTUNITY
Kathryn Mackay is an original founding member of the Thousand Islands Playhouse and former Associate Artistic Director. She has been directing professionally for over 15 years, her most recent credits include: Women Who Shout at the Stars (Goombay Productions), Freedom 85 (Port Hope Festival) The Clockmaker (Thousand Islands Playhouse). She has over 10 years of experience working with people with intellectual disabilities on collaborative theatrical projects such as H’art’s Stone Soup Remixed, Newton Finds a Home: The Musical and Newton & Alice.
4:00-5:00pm: ABLE ARTISTS: OFF THE RECORD
7:00pm: Justin Hines, Award-winning singer-songwriter
PERFORMANCE
Even though Justin Hines grew up singing in church at his grandmother’s behest, his realization came at the most unlikely of places— at a Toronto Raptors’ basketball game in his hometown 15 years ago. A then-14-year old Hines won a vocal competition to sing the National Anthem at the game and his world opened up before him. Thrown in the deep end, Hines, who has performed professionally ever since, realized he could not only survive, but thrive. But then again, Hines has thrived all his life against odds that would daunt someone with a less indomitable spirit. Hines has Larsen Syndrome, a joint dislocation condition that confines him to a wheelchair. Hines has performed across the globe, throughout Europe, the Middle East, China and North America. He has performed at the Beijing Olympics, supported by Sheila E, the Vancouver Olympics as well as the 2011 Pan Am Games in Mexico.
www.justinhines.com
Thursday, November 28
10:30-11:30am: Menka Nagrani – Choreographer, Les Productions des Pieds des Mains, Montreal QC
REHEARSING THE LESSON (FILM SCREENING)
Menka Nagrani, Founder of Montreal’s Les Productions des Pieds des Mains, leads the socially committed company that features well-known actors and dancers alongside atypically cast artists, with a view to provoking thought on artistic and social issues.
www.productionsdespiedsdesmains.com
11:30-12:00pm: David Roche, Inspirational Humorist – CLOSING REMARKS
12:00-1:00pm: ABLE ARTISTS: OFF THE RECORD
1:00pm: FORUM CLOSES
Tuesday, November 26- Thursday, November 28
EXHIBIT: PUSH TO OPEN – This exhibit will bring together work by artists from H’art Centre with featured art work by the Different Strokes Art Group, a Kingston collective working to shed stigma regarding mental illness, and Cool Arts, an art group for people with intellectual disability in Kelowna, British Columbia.
