The first Inter-ACT Disability Arts Festival opens this October. Rowena Orejana takes a first-hand look at the creative potential of these New Zealanders.
On the walls of the Toi Ora Live Art Trust's small gallery in Grey Lynn hang three-toned prints, colourful paintings and thought-provoking charcoals.
The narrow hall leads to a
light-filled room where the exhibiting artists - all of whom have experienced mental health worries - give free rein to their creative abilities.
Among them is David Grier, a talented artist who has just sold his single plate print called Malthuses Catastrophe.
He is also in the middle of producing a radio play, Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood, for the first Inter-ACT Disability Arts Festival this October at the Corban Estate Arts Centre and Glen Eden Playhouse.
"We want to change the perception of physical disabilities as the users of resources and turn that around and show that they are the provider of arts," says Paula Crimmens, artistic director of Interacting Theatre.
The three-day festival will showcase works by people of all abilities, in photography, film, portraiture, wearable arts, drama and costume-making.
Ms Crimmens says she is talking with artists five months ahead of the show to give them enough time to put something together. "Interacting [Theatre] knows how expensive it is and how much resources it takes to put on a show.
"But we think it's really important to let people shine on stage."
Toi Ora Arts manager, Bernadette Brewer, agrees. "We have our core service, which is the classes, but anything above and beyond, such as art exhibitions, publications, CD compilations with the music students, we have to get funding for, and that puts a lot of pressure on us. It's pretty tight," she says.
A disability arts festival would give the trust another venue in which to spotlight talents.
"David is a very talented director and writer and actor. He's very good at creating energy in the drama group," says Ms Brewer.
Mr Grier says he's not all that excited about the festival but has his own reasons for participating. That is "to show people what we can do, what we are doing and what we have done.
"It's about society recognising us as valuable people".
Art thou?
To participate, email: interacting@ihug.co.nz
For more details see Interacting's website: www.interacting.org.nz
