It's been quite some time since my last post, but I assure you, I haven't been idle.
I've worked on a number of projects since last I wrote, and had a whole lot of life happening in between. Including the birth of my adorable grand daughter Paisley last September. I've also co-wrote and produced a short film - complete with audio description and captioning - with fellow artist Mark Brose, entitled "29,200" More on that in future posts.
If you want to check out some of my creative endeavours you can visit my Vimeo channel at: https://vimeo.com/user18826187
Or check out the oodles of photography I've been doing lately: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fitzpix/
In August I'll be starting a great new job and then who knows?
Right now I'm working on a couple of fantastic projects during the TO2015 Parapan Am Games.
Let me tell you about them.
It had been my intention to "get out of Dodge" during all this Pandemonium stuff that's going on in the city right now - maybe go home for a couple of weeks - which would have been really nice, since I had the time. I'm not really one for all this big cooperate machine that runs these things. However, the Universe had other plans for me it seems. So I'm here in Toronto embracing the some of the awesomeness that's happening around me - and strictly speaking, there really are some pretty cool things going on locally besides all the other hoopla..
Firstly we have Ring Of Fire (disclaimer - I had nothing to do with this website or any accessibility issues connected with it)
Ring of Fire is a 300-person strong street procession, staged at the Parapan American Games
on Sunday, 9 August 2015 University Avenue from Queens Park to City Hall, Toronto Canada
My role here is to lead an entourage as one of the Sentinels of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. I am Minaadendamowin (Respect) Sentinel. Ring of Fire is organized around the Anishinaabe Seven Grandfather Teachings:Wisdom, Courage, Respect, Honesty, Humility, Truth, and Love
The Sentinel is the largest, most elaborately costumed character in the procession. Each teaching is dramatized by one of these large-scale totemic figures.Respect symbolizes the Buffalo; the costume a graphic abstraction of this animal’s horns and is a symbol of survival.
While I am but a simple player in this project (and that is really nice sometimes) I have to say, I'm really honoured to have this role. I can't wait to see and wear my costume. I just hope it isn't blisteringly hot that day.
Please check out my fellow sentinels on the website. They are equally impressive.
Ring of Fire is a procession by Trinidadian artist Marlon Griffith
in collaboration with Picasso PRO, Equal Grounds, Mississaugas
of the New Credit First Nation, Capoeira Angôla, and Spoken Word poets
from Jane-Finch, Malvern, and Regent Park.
Ring of Fire is commissioned by the Art Gallery of York University (AGYU)
and produced in partnership with Art Starts, SKETCH, The Malvern S.P.O.T., Success Beyond Limits, COBA and School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design, York University.
Curated by Emelie Chhangur
My second project this summer is PUSH! a theatrical production presented by Tangled Art + Disability
I will be developing the Audio Description for this show. And I must say, I'm pretty excited about that. It is so rare in Toronto, let alone Canada to have the opportunity to have this service with a production, let alone be able to develop it in the normal course of rehearsals. (Usually they want you to throw it together a couple of days before the show if at all). So I really hope people come out. It does get tiresom doing this for empty seats. (This of course is due to people's low expectation and just not being used to having theatre made properly accessible to them.)
(From the Tangled website) "as part of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games arts and culture festival, PANAMANIA presented by CIBC, Tangled will present a brand new original production featuring Canadian artists from the disability community, including media creator Murray Siple and an original live score to be written and performed by Latin percussionist Luis Orbegoso. PUSH! weaves together six diverse stories of personal struggle and astonishing accomplishments performed by a team of world class Parasport athletes: Sarai Demers, Jenna Lambert, Victoria Nolan, Paul Rosen, Martha Sandoval Gustafson, and Jody Schloss. Developed and directed by New York City’s Ping Chong + Company,"
I felt somewhat nostalgic watching the athletes tell their stories, as I too had once been one of them. A million years ago, I was very much into track and field. I was a distance runner. We would have gone to the Moscow Para Olympics in 1980 - but well, that never happened. By 1984 life had happened and I never looked back. Until yesterday.
When I first read the call for PUSH a little part of me wanted to share that story...but a bigger part of me wanted to just leave it behind. It was such a disappointment.
Rowing, skiing, equestrian, swimming, sledge hockey, shot put and discus - all the cool sports :)
I am especially fascinated with Jody Schloss is a Grade 1 Para-Equestrian - as I am a horse person. I would love to do competitive dressage but have always been discouraged from doing so by teachers and coaches because of the vision thing. Even when I enquired about such a thing at CARD, a place that specialized in teaching disabled people to ride horses, I sort of got the brush off. At the time, it was just too much to deal with, so I just paid for some basic formal English lessons and ride whenever I can - which isn't nearly enough. How I envy your experience Jody :)
If you plan to attend any event this summer, I recommend this one (and not just because I'm working on it) The passionate energy with which the 6 athletes approach this presentation is infectious. Their stories are engaging and heartfelt - they really mean it.
This show will be audio described as well, which makes it even better. If you wish to use the AD service, don't forget to mention it when you book your tickets - lets show this city - and the theatre community - that investing in AD is worth it!
So, I will post here with my insights and progress on my contribution to the show. It should prove very interesting.
Come on out and see the Ring Of Fire procession - and come see PUSH - these are not just a "Flash In The Pan" but history being mad, and it will be time well spent!
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