art

Filed under: Regular Contributors, David Roche, Irked Videos

This is something you already know if you’re on David Roche’s mailing list.

Hello friends: ”Shameless: The Art of Disability” is now available to view (free) at the National Film Board of Canada website! This iconic feature-length documentary about disability and creativity is a National Film Board of Canada production, directed by the noted documentarian, Bonnie Klein and released in 2008. It focuses on the stories and creative processes of four artistic people with disabilities, including myself, Persimmon Blackbridge, Catherine Frazee and Geoff McMurchy (and of course Bonnie herself). Enjoy!

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Quoting the NFB.ca film synopsis:

Art and activism are the starting point for a funny and intimate portrait of five surprising individuals with diverse disabilities. Packed with humour and raw energy, this film follows the gang of five from B.C. to Nova Scotia as they create and present their own images of their disabilities.

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Watch the feature-length documentary now:

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And please buy David’s phenomenal book:

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Filed under: Regular Contributors, Donna Williams, Themes, Auties & Aspies

By now, you all know Donna Williams. Here’s a poem called “Butterflies” that Donna wrote recently.

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if someone takes your disabilities and makes them your
gilded cage
then you take charge of your disabilities like never before
for they are your fallibility, the keys to your cage

a key you allowed someone else to call theirs
because they taught you this was love and caring
and in the light of day you realise it had nothing to do
with you

so you look in the mirror and say, wow, there’s a fool
and brush off the dust and say, ok, so the world is full of
fools so I’m in good company

and you look at your life and say, wow, there’s an island
but islands can build bridges

and you look at your smile and say
wow, I’d forgotten I could wake up with this

and you look at your time and say
you ain’t Florence Nightingale, so follow that smile
because a heart shouldn’t be heavy
it should be light
because a heavy heart will never fly
and butterflies can.

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Buy Donna’s gorgeous (and reasonably priced!) paintings

(Holiday tip: Nothing says "I love you" like original art!)

Check out Donna’s band

(With a name like Donna and The Aspinauts, how can you resist?)

Read Donna’s blog and visit her website

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If you live in Canada, you can support Donna and Irked SIMULTANEOUSLY:

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Read Irked posts tagged “poetry”
Read Irked posts tagged “painting”
Read Irked posts tagged “autism”

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Filed under: Regular Contributors, Lewis Schofield, Themes, Auties & Aspies, QuIrked Kids, Art Gallery

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This is Mr. Lewis Schofield’s latest painting. It’s entitled “Undersea Stroll” and it’s about to be exhibited at an autism conference…

Isn’t it totally awesome?!

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Click here to read the story behind the artwork >>

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Filed under: Themes, The UpDown Report, Addictions

The Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival, happening as we speak in Toronto, explores cinematic representations of mental health and addiction. Film and video programs are followed by post-screening panel discussions with people who receive mental health and addiction services, as well as writers, directors, actors, health care professionals and academics.

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Filed under: Themes, Bum Deal, Campaign Watch

The sessions—which are free and open to the public—will be moderated by highly-acclaimed journalists Kathryn Gretsinger and Charlie Smith, and the great David Diamond (Headlines Theatre’s trailblazing co-founder and current Artistic Director). They “will get at the nuts and bolts of creating safe, affordable and supportive housing. Each day deals with location, financing and necessary supports and services.”

Moderated panels will be made up of people who have experienced homelessness, Metro Vancouver city councillors and business leaders.

Panelists will each present a short talk on the day’s topic, followed by an open dialogue with the audience.

The ideas discussed at the Sessions will generate an official Community Action Report—designed “to inform policy.” In fact, Headlines Theatre has written agreements from the following organizations to receive the report for their research for national, provincial, regional and local strategies on mental health and homelessness:

• The Mental Health Commission of Canada
• BC Housing
• The City of Vancouver
• The Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness
• RainCity Housing
• Coast Mental Health

If you’d like to participate (and you really really should), The Community Dialogue Sessions are being held in Vancouver at the Firehall Arts Centre:

280 E. Cordova Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
November 24, 25 and 26 @ 1:30pm each day
Admission is free and open to the public

For more information call 1-604-871-0508 or email info@headlinestheatre.com.

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Learn more at headlinestheatre.com

Then…

Read Irked posts tagged “homeless”
Read Irked posts tagged “theatre”
Read Irked posts tagged “mental illness”
Read Irked posts tagged “British Columbia”

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Filed under: Campaign Watch

If you’re the parent of a daughter between the ages of 8 and 12, chances are you’ve heard of a wonderful and empowering magazine called “New Moon Girls” (and its sister website newmoon.com, where girls can ask questions and share experiences with their peers in a safe, adult-monitored environment). The magazine, a “champion of girl-centered media” that features writing and art by and for “tweenagers,” is in its 16th year of continuous publication—a HUGE accomplishment in the world of grassroots publishing.

That’s why we were SHOCKED (and very saddened) to read this recent announcement on LunaNewMoon’s Twitter account:

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Then, practically simultaneously, we received this email from our good friend Julia Barry:

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Filed under: Themes, Wheelchairman of the Board

On IrkedMagazine.com, we’ve highlighted the extraordinary work of AXIS Dance Company multiple times over the past few years (hopefully driving a steady trickle of curious readers to their website).

But now, finally, AXIS has hit the mother lode…

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Filed under: Regular Contributors, Philip Patston, Themes, Cerebral Ballsy, Wheelchairman of the Board, Irked Videos

By now, most of you already know the indomitable, the unsinkable, the mind-bogglingly entrepreneurial Mr. Philip Patston.

Here’s an October 20th video clip of Philip onstage at The Thirsty Dog, in Auckland, New Zealand reciting poetry (with Tony Lewis on blues harp):

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Check out Philip’s awesome work @ philippatston.com

Then…

Read Irked posts tagged “poetry”

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Filed under: Uncategorized

In our last post, we said that “We think (Broadway-bound) Abigail Breslin will make a PHENOMENAL Helen Keller, even though she’s neither deaf nor blind.”

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Here’s another truly fascinating perspective >>

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Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam, Blind Visionaries

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We think Abigail Breslin will make a PHENOMENAL Helen Keller!

(Even though she’s neither deaf nor blind…)

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RELATED: Watch Sight Lines, a 23-minute documentary that examines and demystifies the practice of providing access for blind and visually impaired actors.

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Read Irked posts tagged “deaf”
Read Irked posts tagged “blind”

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