In her TEDx talk Jo exposes and deconstructs embedded stereotypes of people with disability in English literature ‘classics’.
Most of Jo’s work focuses on diversity and equality – two things which she is passionate about. Not because they are just ‘a good thing’ or because there is a law which says people should pay attention to them, but because she thinks they are the key to transforming the way the cultural sector works.
The Australia Council for the Arts has brought Jo to Australia to talk about the transformational potential of employing disabled people in leadership roles within the cultural sector – not for those individuals themselves, but for the invigoration of cultural strategy, for the benefit of all.
Placing equality and diversity at the centre of arts organisations, venues, programmes and policies means that more people can become involved in work which is simply more dynamic, effective and life enhancing.
There are only 3 weeks until Jo Verrent’s Leadership and Disability Forum. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear Jo speaking in Adelaide on Wednesday 9 July 2014, 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM at Adelaide Festival Centre.
If you wish to attend, it is essential to RSVP. Email events@australiacouncil.gov.au to confirm your attendance. Be sure to RSVP by Friday 28 June 2014.
The odradekaeaf season exposes emerging talent from Adelaide artists who are working in experimental forms and processes that ‘Break-away’ from traditional ‘norms’.
Scott Pyle & Henry Jock Walker, Jenna May & Lilly Buttrose and James Kurtz & Celeste Aldahn all collaborated to create one work between each pair of artists. The new work are complemented by a text of transcribed conversations about the works, between the artists and Madison Bycroft, an emerging artist and curator facilitating the project.
The final instalment of the Breakaway odradekaeaf series bring together James Kurtz and Celeste Aldahn.
James and Celeste at the opening of Breakaway
The interview with James and Celeste conducted by the Breakaway odradekaeaf facilitator and curator Madison Bycroft explored the artists making processes and ideas;
Celeste Aldahn: James and I met weekly. We both agreed to make a collaborative video, using James’ illustrations, and a collaborative illustration, as a backdrop. The main idea was inspired by James’ love of games, but our own interpretation.
James Kurtze: We’ve been making an artwork like Sonic, a version of Sonic. You know the hedgehog? From Sega games. I will be Sonic, a monster hunter.
CA: …and I am the squirming creatures in a mysterious preview to a video game…..
JK: Celeste came in once a week, on Tuesdays.
CA: We had been meeting semi-regularly since January! But most of this time was spent discussing a broad range of ideas to make sure we settled on something that was original to our collaboration.
JK: Sonic is copyrighted, so we had to make our own version. They call it Sega, I call it Jega.
CA: We approach making in very different ways, I am quite a scrappy worker and like to approach making with freedom to make mistakes (I like that, to me mistakes leave an element of the human in the work), but James likes to really think his work through and spends a lot of time researching and planning.
CA: Sometimes the idea to just keep making is good enough. Not everything you make will be a masterpiece or be communicating a deep or necessary concept.
JK: I hope people will enjoy the work. Some parts might be funny.
CA: In my opinion, it’s enough that it could inspire others, or new ideas in yourself.
CA: Working with James was challenging because we approached making in very different ways, which made collaboration tricky. But challenging is good, it gives us an opportunity to learn and grow toward the next challenge and opportunity!
MB: James, how did you find collaborating on this project?
JK: Wicked. The best part is making new friends. Some times it’s difficult but you get used it.
The final work/collaboration in the program is exhibiting until 28 June 2014 at the AEAF gallery in the Lion Arts Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide.
Guest blogger: Michelle Ryan
Then I wondered how people would react to a woman, who requires assistance to walk and uses a wheelchair, dancing alongside some of the best dancers in the country? Luckily I didn’t think about it too much as dance is what I know, love and is part of who I am.
If the same question had been asked 10 years ago, my reaction would have been very different.
At the age of 30, having enjoyed a career that took me to stages across Australia and all over the world, my life changed dramatically as a result of acquiring disability. I no longer identified as a dancer or even an artist, even though I continued to work creatively behind the scenes. When asked what I did for a living, I would start by saying that ‘I used to be a dancer’. I lost my identity as an artist the day of my diagnosis.
However at the age of 40, after a long hiatus, I was invited to perform in the Brisbane Festival season of Out of Context – for Pina by Belgium choreograph Alain Platell of Les Ballet C de la B. At an age when most dancers have retired, I was contemplating returning to the stage.
Surprised by the invitation, I agreed and the experience was both nerve racking and exhilarating. There was an amazing moment of clarity for me when waiting backstage for the performance to begin. Alain asked me what was I afraid of? I replied that ‘I was scared I would fall over’.
His response was beautiful and simple, “wouldn’t you just get up and keep going?”
It was one of those light bulb moments. After the performance he challenged me by asking why I didn’t dance any more as I am a dancer. I couldn’t answer him but it made me think of myself differently. For so long, I had felt drained of all colour and beauty but at that moment I could feel that things were going to change. The experience sparked a passion in me for artists with disability to be acknowledged, supported and celebrated.
From there, life in the arts snowballed with fantastic opportunities for me to return to life as an artist and creator. I performed in Gaelle Mellis’s Take Up Thy Bed and Walk and started collaborating on a new dance theatre work, Intimacy that will premiere in Melbourne in August 2014. Another opportunity was to apply for a position of Artistic Director with Restless Dance Theatre.
For the Expressions season in Brisbane this year, I created a piece called Falling inspired by a quote from Marilyn Monroe, “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring”. A fabulous quote!
Now when asked what I do, I say I am a dancer!
“The Sons” (L-R) Ricky Samai, Ben Wishart, Duncan Luke, Ryan Rowland, Kym Mackenzie, Damien Turbin and Alirio Zavarce. Photo by Alex Frayne.
Written and directed by NSA artistic associate Alirio Zavarce (in collaboration with the performers), Sons & Mothers is a humorous and poignant look into the lives of six men and their relationships with their mothers. These are love stories made all the more potent because of the disabilities the men live with and their humbling takes on discriminations they’ve faced.
Two Sons in the cast live at home with their Mothers, two live independently but rely on their Mothers, and two have lost their Mothers. On stage, Duncan Luke, Kym Mackenzie, Ryan Rowland, Richard Samai, Damien Turbin and Ben Wishart create intimate and authentic portraits of this primal relationship.
NSA artistic director PJ Rose recalls, “It took seven years to create Sons & Mothers: five years for the idea to gestate, two years to develop, three weeks to rehearse and two weeks to perform. In those brief two weeks, Sons & Mothers became the buzz of the 2012 Adelaide Fringe festival. Five-star reviews and great word of mouth led to sold out houses and top Fringe Awards.
“A magic energy continues to animate this unusual show that appeals to audiences of all ages. As one reviewer put it, ‘this show appeals to anyone who’s ever had a mother’, and we are thrilled that audiences all over Australia will get to see it.”
The tour begins with three performances at the Darwin Festival on August 14th and 15th. Over the following 10 weeks, Sons & Mothers will perform in regional venues in each state and territory. The tour concludes in South Australia with final performances at Renmark’s Chaffey Theatre and Port Pirie’s Northern Festival Centre from October 18-22. A feature film of the creative development of Sons & Mothers made by local production company POP Pictures premiered at the 2013 Adelaide Film Festival. Also called Sons & Mothers, that film will be screened alongside the play at selected venues on tour.
A complete list of tour dates and venues can be found on the No Strings Attached Theatre of Disability website.
Access2Arts felt her presentation celebrated the small and persistent agitator.
Hear Caroline’s buzz surrounding a unique project that is changing the way people think about Dance and Disability in the Scotland and further afield.
Discover more about Caroline at her website.
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