Normally, youB次元官网网址檙e never allowed to touch art, but the sixth annual Artists with Disabilities showcase in Victoria has a whole wall of tactile artwork.
Created by a youth art program with the Victoria Disability Resource Centre, large colourful posters are textured to feature braille words. One says the word B次元官网网址渁rtB次元官网网址� while another says B次元官网网址渉ope.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淥ne of the things that makes our show so exciting is that itB次元官网网址檚 a showcase, so itB次元官网网址檚 not just one type of medium, one type of artist or one type of ability or disability B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 everything,B次元官网网址� said coordinator Ami Gordon.
ThereB次元官网网址檚 both abstract and realistic art, sculptures, a short film and the interactive tactile wall.
Gordon, who has volunteered with the showcase for three years, has also facilitated arts programs with a childrenB次元官网网址檚 rehabilitation hospital. She and her son, who has down syndrome, both love art and its therapeutic side effect.
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B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e seen firsthand the healing power of art. It opens up abilities. When you come to our artshow, you donB次元官网网址檛 see disabilities, you see abilities. You see gifts,B次元官网网址� Gordon said.
This year, of the 18 artists featured, there are eight newcomers. To add more of a sense of each artistB次元官网网址檚 style, the showcase is featuring multiple works from each person.
Les Chan has hosted the show all six years, ever since he B次元官网网址� an artist in his own right B次元官网网址� was approached to help. Every year, it draws hundreds of people.
B次元官网网址淭he art show encompasses as many people as possible and giving them the opportunity to shine. A lot of people with disabilities do art, but a small handful of people get to see it. A few friends and family. But here, theyB次元官网网址檙e exposed to several hundred people,B次元官网网址� Chan said.
One such artist is Christopher Wooding. Even though heB次元官网网址檚 supported the show since he began working at the Victoria Disability Resource Centre more than five years ago, Wooding only started submitting his comics to the show last year.
Wooding, who uses a wheelchair, has been an artist since he was about six years old. He only started showing his work publicly shortly before his comics appeared in the 2017 show. Until then, some of his friends didnB次元官网网址檛 even know he could draw.
Publicly displaying his work for the first time was B次元官网网址渢errifying,B次元官网网址� he said with a laugh. B次元官网网址淚t was very surreal to hear people say how much they like the work, whereas when youB次元官网网址檙e an artist, youB次元官网网址檙e your own worst critic.B次元官网网址�
Soon he began getting requests for commissioned work, and Wooding hopes to one day publish a book of his comics.
B次元官网网址淭his show is something I really believe in supporting because I think itB次元官网网址檚 very important for artists with disabilities to be represented and to be able to get their work out there,B次元官网网址� Wooding said at the opening day of the 2018 show. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important for everyone to have the ability to express themselves, but for a person with disabilities, itB次元官网网址檚 incredibly important because thereB次元官网网址檚 so much more that weB次元官网网址檙e dealing with in life and we may not have the words or the means of being able to express ourselves. But if we can channel that all into something like lines on a page or paint on a canvas, then we can create some pretty powerful stuff.B次元官网网址�
The artshow can be visited at 821 Fort Street. Refreshments are next door in the Victoria Disability Resource Centre, where accessible washrooms are also located. The show-end party will be held on Monday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m.
The entrance is free, as the showcase is supported by the CRDB次元官网网址檚 arts development.
B次元官网网址淲e wanted to make this as inclusive as we can, and that means making it accessible to people of all socioeconomic backgrounds,B次元官网网址� Gordon said.
This year, the showcase will give out two peoplesB次元官网网址� choice awards worth $100, and invites all guests to vote for their favourite artists.
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