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This evening’s Program

YOUR MC: THE INCOMPARABLE ALEX BULMER

10 Years and Going Strong A presentation in four parts by

Ryerson Alumni of Disability Studies (RADS) Read by Davis Mirza, Heather Willis and Laura Arndt

Script by Tracy Beck Video Production by Terry Poirier

Research and design by Jennifer Paterson and Sandra Phillips Part 1: 1999-2001

Fall

Choreographed by Rachel Gorman Performed by Mark Brose and Rachel Gorman

Music composition by Reena Katz Videography by Laurel Gooding

Video editing by Aaron Cain

Moving to my own beat Performed by Ruth Ruth and Neena Saloiya

Members of the Friendly Spike Theatre Band

10 Years and Going Strong Read by Davis Mirza, Heather Willis and Zoie Smith

Part 2: 2002-2004

Summer blossoms

Choreographed by Frank Hull Performed by Kazumi Tsuruoka and Irena Kagansky

Poems

By Heather Emme

Mime By Christopher Welsh

10 Years and Going Strong

Read by Davis Mirza, Heather Willis and Zoie Smith Part 3: 2005-2007

My own move Choreographed and performed by Frank Hull

Two Songs Written and performed by Jane Field

10 Years and Going Strong Read by Davis Mirza, Heather Willis and Laura Arndt

Part 4: 2008-2009

Another Way Choreographed and performed by Spirit Synott

Music by Justin Hines

This evening’s artists

Alex Bulmer is a writer, performer and teacher. Her recent writing includes Against The Tide (Greenwich and Docklands Festival) Cast Off's (Channel Four Television), an adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (BBC Radio Drama) and Maddy And The Invisible Band of Groovers (York Theatre Royal Playhouse). Her first play, SMUDGE (Nightwood Theatre) earned a Dora Nomination and was awarded Critics Choice during its U.K. production. Performance work includes Dyke City, Oedipus Under The Bridge, The Ukulele Ladies, Horse and The Book of Judith. She is currently developing new work with Graeae, the U.K.’s leading disabled-led theatre company. Alex performed The Mirror

Dance at Art with Attitude 2002, and emceed Culture Cauldron that same year.

Theatre artist, filmmaker, and disability rights activist Mark Brose completed his training in visual arts at the Ontario College of Art. Mark made his choreographic debut with Rachel Gorman in 1999, with their co-creation Slipping Ground, followed by collective disability-focused theatre and dance works for the 2000 SummerWorks Festival and the 2001 KickstArt Festival, and a stint as Gordie Hull in the award winning 2006 heist comedy Oops! Recent work includes in.clu.sion, a short film examining the isolation often experienced by persons with disabilities and aboriginal peoples in Canada. Most recently, Mark appeared in The Theatre Centre’s The Book of Judith. Mark’s work as President of Transportation Action Now has included convincing Toronto to replace its streetcars with an accessible LRT, acting as Intervener in the successful Supreme Court challenge for wheelchair accessible inter-city rail cars, and sitting on Ontario’s

transportation standards committee for the 2005 AODA.

Heather Emme is an actor/writer/singer/ blogger/pet-owner and all round interesting person. Heather was the MC for Art with Attitude 2003. In that gig, she delivered all of her lines in lyric rhyme, much of it written on the spot in that crazy hour before the show begins when everyone behind the scenes is running around frantically trying to solve last-minute crises – quite a remarkable feat!

Rachel Gorman has been presenting dance and performance art in theatres, parks and galleries since 1999. The Globe and Mail’s Paula Citron called Rachel’s 2002 production Waking the Living “compelling…a disturbing and riveting reality check” and summed up her 2004 production Passing Dark with the headline “wheelchair dancer a fresh dusk delight.” In 2006, Rachel premiered The Ghost, a half-hour dance film about war and political prisoners, and in 2007, she created Transit, a gallery performance and installation dealing with mixed-race identity and political exile. In 2008, Rachel was commissioned by the Balancing Acts 9 festival in Calgary to create Pass,

a performance and video piece dealing with gender, madness, and childhood diagnosis. Also in 2008, Rachel was the rehearsal director for Montréal and Toronto Fringe Festival runs of Alan Shain’s second play, Time to Put My Socks On. Rachel is Undergraduate Coordinator at the Women and Gender Studies Institute of the University of Toronto.

Kazumi Tsuruoka is a performer and disability-rights activist. In 1999 he joined the TTA’s DIS THIS! Group; performed in E(merge)ncy, SummerWorks 2000; co-created and workshopped

Samson’s Hair, a semi-autobiographical play, with Rose Jacobson 2001-2002; presented at the KickstART Festival 2001 and at five different Ryerson productions in between 2002 and 2006. In 2003 Kazumi created his signature show CP Salon with Fides Krucker, performed with pianist Sageev Oore. It was presented in Toronto in 2003 and toured Regina and Vancouver, May 2006, to critical acclaim. CP Salon was presented at the PIVOT festival in Whitehorse, January 2008 through the Nakai Theatre and the Centre for Independent Living. In May 2009 Kazumi

performed in the Choir of The Book of Judith written by Michael Rubenfeld and Sarah Stanley.

Irena Kagansky is a multifaceted performer, poet and professional writer. She is currently working on a mini anthology entitled Fruitless Sorrows and Fleeting Elations. In the past Irena has received vocal training and artistic guidance from a number of talented people who share her passion for the arts. Most recently Irena has performed in The Book of Judith, a play written by Michael Rubenfeld. She is now making her dance debut in a duet piece entitled Summer Blossoms.

This evening’s artists

Ruth Ruth Stackhouse is a community theatre director and a student in the School of Disability Studies at Ryerson. Her specialty is theatre and performance. She has worked with the Friendly Spike Theatre Band, a company that has been helping to bring forth a disability culture for MANY years and one that has participated in one way or another in Art with Attitude from the start!

Neena Saloiya has been an actor with Friendly Spike for five years. She is also a student. As a writer and actor, Neena has enriched a number of Friendly Spike works: Human Rights Matter, The Places We Share, The Edmond Yu Project, and TEACH all benefit by her breath. In the play Moving To My Own Beat, Neena identifies with others in the cast by sharing her own experience as a student at the Ontario School for the Blind.

Dancer, actor, and visual artist Spirit Synott's extensive arts-training includes a diploma (with honours) from the Ontario College of Arts, and actor training with Actors Equity Showcase, Toronto Theatre Alliance, Actors’ Co-op, Sears & Switzer, and Debajehmujig Theatre. She has studied dance with Debbie Wilson (modern and ballet), Rachel Gorman (repertoire and modern), Ronald Taylor (African/Carribean modern), Anthony Guerra (African/Caribbean folk), Almond Small (modern), and Lisandro Gomez (Argentinian Tango). Spirit has performed in an impressive range of venues including: Nathan Philips Square, the Betty

Oliphant Theatre, Roy Thompson Hall and Harbourfront in Toronto; the Rose Theatre in Brampton, Ontario; City Hall in Burlington, Vermont; the EPCOR Centre for Performing Arts in Calgary; The Roundhouse in Vancouver and The Millennium Centre in Winnipeg. Spirit's multidisciplinary, cross cultural creation work with Debajehmujig Theatre on Manitoulin Island expands the boundaries of inclusion, exploration and innovation. Spirit’s most recent duet with Aaron Piepszny was featured as the finale at Yonge and Dundas Square for International Dance Day celebrations. She has been commissioned and invited to perform at Ffida, DustDances, World Dance Alliance.

Jane Field is a former high school teacher, a singer, songwriter and performer. She writes humorous and satirical songs about disability issues, lesbian and gay experience, and other topics close to her heart. She has been a wheelchair user since 1988, a quadriplegic since 1997, and is now on a new journey of discovery, approaching the non-disabled world again, having gained much insight as someone with a disability. Jane’s current area of interest and writing is the concept of “normal” in our society; who defines normal, and how people are affected by labelling and by the prevailing attitudes of dominant groups.

Christopher Welsh trained with National Theatre of the Deaf in Chester, Connecticut and also studied improvisation at Second City in Toronto. He performed at Canada Clown Carnival, Winnipeg International Storytelling and Shakespeare Living Willow Theatre in Wales, U.K. Christopher was the first Deaf comedian to perform before a hearing audience at Yuk-Yuks in Toronto. He has also performed with the Show of Hands Theatre Company. Through his companies Vibrisign and Wavehands, has taken his one–man show on the road, traveling to schools and festivals performing for children and adults of all ages. He also gas given theatrical workshops on mime, improvisation and the use of facial expression as well as sign language workshops and has appeared on YTV and TVO.

Frank G. Hull has danced with the OMODANCE company of Toronto, and has trained with “Dancing Wheels”, an integrated dance company in Cleveland Ohio. Frank has choreographed three pieces for Art With Attitude exploring movement, touch, ability and shape. His passion is exploring dance with diverse bodies and abilities.

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Artists: Mark Brose and Rachel Gorman, 1999

“In 1999, Mark and I premiered ‘Slipping Ground’ at Artword Theatre, and later performed it in a Ryerson Disability Studies classroom, kicking off a decade of Art with Attitude. In ‘Fall,’ we contemplate the passage of time and the weight of change. Our performance tonight is accompanied by haunting Klezmer music from my long-time comrade Reena Katz’s ‘Needletrade’ project, and video projections from the original ‘Slipping Ground’.”

Rachel Gorman

“An enthusiastic and politically charged audience, Art with Attitude has always been one of my favourite events to perform for – an event which gave a unique opportunity to challenge boundaries surrounding art, disability and performance. Art with Attitude has been a place where I had the opportunity to discover my connection with Kazumi Tsuruoka and Frank Hull in creating dance which challenged boundaries around gender, sexuality and disability and it has been a place where we have discovered audiences which support this work.”

Alan Shain

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Artists: Spirit Synott, Jane Field and Eve Goldberg, Alan Shain, and members of the Friendly Spike Theatre Band, 2001

“Squished. Art with Attitude makes me think of being squished. The show has become so popular over the years that the theatre at Buddies has been bursting at its seams. One year we had to have a live video feed into the cabaret space next door, and still there were people clamouring to get in. The greater the awareness of disability art and culture, the greater the need for larger venues with access for both audience and performers. Over the last ten years Art with Attitude has demonstrated clearly that access is a performance issue. Disabled artists need access to mainstream performance spaces. We are emerging worldwide as dancers, singers, actors, comedians, writers, clowns, musicians, poets, and artists with our own unique perspective and voice. As we push the boundaries of the arts scene further outwards we claim our rightful space, not as artists with disabilities, but as artists. Thank you, Art with Attitude, for playing such a key role in the evolution of disability art. Thank you for propelling us towards inclusion and understanding, whilst maintaining our own cultural identity and voice. Thank you for expanding opportunities for creativity and for being such an instrument of change.”

Jane Field

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Culture Cauldron Artists: Alex Bulmer (MC), Christopher Welsh; Lilith Finkler; David Lepofsky & Michael Lewis; Spirit Synott and John Burgess; Emma Hardie & Cindy Thomson; John Feld; Judith Snow; Kazumi Tsuruoka; Simon Qiggaigguq; Julie Crann; Mark Brose; Lembi Buchanan; Jane Field & Moon Joyce; Ed Wadley; Roberta Ferguson; Don Peuramaki

“I have very happy memories of transforming into a blind Irish Baker, which only Art With Attitude could inspire. I remember Jane Field rocking the joint with Moon by her side. As M.C. of the first Culture Cauldron in 2002, I shall never forget Kazumi's entrance to center stage: I reached swiftly to grab my ukulele off the performance chair and instead swiftly encountered the wrong part of Kazumi's anatomy! And then there was David Lepofsky ordering ME to "get off the stage!" as I was enthusiastically playing him an extra long ukulele intro. I also recall, fondly, John Feld's Gimp Pride Day, and Spirit Synott’s chair careening backward into the audience during an inspired modern dance moment, Catherine Frazee laughing and cheering us all on and generally having a rip roaring time with my friends.”

Alex Bulmer

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Art with Attitude Artists: Alan Shain, Frank Hull and Kazumi Tsuruoka; Doris Rajan and Spirit Synott , Alex Bulmer, Duncan McKinley, Angela Stratiy, Members of the Friendly Spike Theatre Band (ASL interpreters: Penny Shincariol & Gus Mancini)

“When I think back to my 2002 involvement in 'Art With Attitude', it is the enduring sense of humility I took away from the evening which immediately comes to mind. I was early in my career and, as I recall, a last-minute malfunction with my presentation laptop had ramped my anxiety exceptionally high. I rushed to the evening far more consumed with my own performance and importance than with the actual acts themselves - mere interruptions to the dazzling wisdoms I myself was there to impart. That 'attitude' swiftly dissipated with the evening's first display of 'art'. I promptly realized that I may have typed the correct words into my speaker notes, but it was the resiliency and unwavering spirit of the performers in front of us that could school me in what celebrating and successfully living with a difference really means. A very poignant example of this, which is also my most enduring memory of the show, was the performance of, "Three Men Exploring" by Frank G. Hull, Alan Shain and Kazumi Tsoroko."

Dr. B. Duncan McKinlay, Psychologist Life's A Twitch! (www.lifesatwitch.com)"

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Art with attitude 2003

Artists: Heather Emme (MC), Andy Blau, Spirit Synott, Lynn Manning

“Art With Attitude was my first introduction to Canada and Toronto and the Canadian disability arts and culture movement. Never had I been so warmly received by such a diverse collection of artists and scholars. I now jump at every chance to come back. I long to be there to help celebrate this milestone, unfortunately, my long distance congratulations will have to do. Cheers to you, Ryerson University, for 10 years of breaking barriers and myopic mindsets. I'm proud to be part of the 'Art With Attitude' legend.”

Lynn Manning

“Art with Attitute has Mad Pride. Mad Pride has Art with Attitude Friendly Spike has Art with Attitude. Art with Attitude has Friendly Spike!

Ruth Ruth, Friendly Spike Theatre

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culture cauldron 2 Artists: Christopher Welsh, MC; Juan Jaramillo & Patti Trofimenkoff (from Dancing Hands); Libby Thaw; Brenda Gough, Christene Rowntree & Bob Gerrie (from e–Motions); Patricia Seeley; Kazumi Tsuruoka; Heather Emme; Spirit Synott & John Burgess; Pierre Tetrault; Catherine MacKinnon; Frank Hull; Caroline Oreilly; Kevin Forde; Wanda Fitzgerald, Kelly Ashton & Darren Cooper(from The Glenvale Players)

“Art with Attitude reminds me of a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:"Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." Spirit Synott

“Just want to say the importance of Art with Attitude is showing the creative and sensuous side of persons with disabilities.” Kazumi Tsuruoka

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Art with attitude 2004 Artists: Alan Shain (MC), Eid Ishmael and his band, Spirit

Synott with Debbie Wilson, Victoria Maxwell

“Two things stand out for me when I think of performing at Art with Attitude 2004:

1) Being doubled over with laughter as I listened to stellar artist Alan Shain as Master of Ceremonies. He is not just a master of ceremony, but a master comic.

2) The audience at Art with Attitude. I think because many, probably most of the audience, knew exactly how it felt to be challenged by a disability. Telling my story of living with mental illness that night was like telling it to a group (yeah a big group) of friends and because of that, made the experience of performing very special, very intimate. Joe Public doesn’t get the ‘inside’ jokes. I hope the event goes smashingly well. I so wish I could be there. I bet it will be a rocking party! Loads of love to you and I send my good wishes and congratulations to the artists and students who are there.”

Victoria Maxwell BFA, BPP* www.victoriamaxwell.com

*Bachelor of Fine Arts / Bi-Polar Princess

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Art with attitude 2005 Artists: Ann Stocking, Kazumi Tsuruoka, André Arruda (MC), Jeff Nisker, Spirit Synott with Anthony Guerra (Gus Mancini and Penny Schincariol, ASL) “Hosting Art with Attitude was a great experience for me as a comedian and a person of disability. I never had hosted before that night. I had no idea there were so many disabled artists like myself in this world let alone Toronto. It was an eye opener to learn that the disabled people on whole have the dirtiest sense of humor out of any type of group I've ever performed for. I've never been more proud!

Happy Anniversary Art With Attitude!” André Arruda

www.antigiant.com

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Art with attitude 2006 Artists: Jane Field (MC), Debajimujig Theatre Company, Kazumi Tsuruoka, Alan Shain, Frank Hull, Spirit Synott, (Penny Schincariol and Gus Mancini, ASL interpreters)

“Aanii to our friends at Ryerson University and heartfelt congratulations on the 10th Anniversary of Art with Attitude. The artists of Debajehmujig Theatre Group remember our participation in Boundaries and Belonging in 2006 with deep, deep fondness, and as having a most profound effect on how we create and communicate through our art. The immediate rapport among the artists of our two communities was a testament to the depth of understanding that marginalized people have for each other. The sharing, the friendships, the creative collaborations, and the increased awareness that the experience provided us continues to linger and resonate. We consciously make different choices now than we did before, and for this we are extremely grateful. Please pass on our best wishes to all involved in this extraordinary event. We will be thinking about you from our home on Manitoulin Island. Gchi Miigwech.”

Your friends at Debaj

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Crip cabaret 2008 Artists: Spirit Synott with Rachel Gorman; Mat Fraser

“Ryerson has produced such a special and exciting program on disability, it was an utter joy to come and perform my work to the enthusiastic summer students, who within one week had been exposed to enough politics, art, culture, history and contemporary disability understanding to allow for every one of my edgy jokes, stabs at PC hangovers, complex layering of proud disability consciousness manifesting as Vaudevillian humour etc, not to mention allowing me to strip virtually naked and make a fool, clown, and a buffoon of myself. I think what Catherine Frazee and her cohorts have achieved is up there with Rain Man and Forrest Gump - JOKE!! - No, I really do believe Ryerson made this happen, and I was just lucky enough to come along and benefit from the audience’s total understanding of what I did BECAUSE of how they had challenged their learning curves in such a small amount of time. I confront and challenge all my audiences as a natural part of what I do, but haven't for a very long time had such an open-armed welcoming of my confrontational approach to disability show-business. Ryerson rocks disability ASS !!!”

Mat Fraser

Our Many Thanks Go to...

Production Nan Shepherd Sean Hooper

Patricia Seeley Steve Pelletier

Jacub Rak Sean Kearns

Accessibility Marcia Adolphe (ASL coordination)

Joanne Anderson (captionning) Nancie Anderson (ASL)

Katerina Georgieva (audio desciption) Jodi Taylor (ASL)

J. P. Udo (audio desciption)

Multimedia Jessica Devnani Danielle Guida

John Hajdu Hongbo He

Support Aiden Crump Esther Ignagni

Amira Mahamud Paris Master-McRae

Melanie Panitch Jennifer Paterson

Daniel Pellett Jijian Voronka

This program is dedicated to the memory of:

Beverley Antle, who loved dance

Tanis Doe, who loved her culture

Brenda Gough, who loved the stage

Emma Hardie, who loved peace

Malcolm Jeffries, who loved to teach

Harriet McBride Johnson, who loved a good story

Michael Lewis, who yearned for access

Bill Owens, who loved literature

Lucille Owens, who shared Bill's passions

Cindy Thompson, who spoke truth to power