Projecting into the Future, Oct 09
Representation & interpretation of disability in the Arts
9th October 2009, 2.00pm – 5.00pm, Carridgeworks, Leeds then viewing Motion Disabled as part of Light Night from 6.30pm
Disabled people have been represented in the arts for generations, although not without controversy. Whether as artist or subject matter, the presence of disabled people within the sector still seems to create debate. Projecting into the Future seeks to bring these discussions up to date, and asks what is the future we want to create for disabled people in relation to the arts?
The afternoon will use the artwork Motion Disabled as a case study to provoke discussion and debate and include perspectives from other artists working in the field. It will also provide an opportunity to get up to date information on Unlimited - the UK’s largest ever celebration of arts and disability culture which will use the power of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to profile the creative talents and ambitions of disabled people and to challenge traditional perceptions of disability.
A panel including the academic, writer and cultural critic Dr Paul Darke (of Outside Centre, www.outside-centre.com), Liz Whitehouse (Director of The Art House, www.the-arthouse.org.uk), James Hill, Senior Arts & Regeneration Officer for Leeds City Council, leading on Light Night and many other creative programmes, Wesley Zepherin, Diversity Officer, Arts Council England Yorkshire and of course the artist himself, Simon McKeown will be chaired by Yorkshire based disability arts consultant Jo Verrent (ADA inc, www.adainc.org), and be pushed to provide different perspectives to questions such as: What do we gain or loose by labeling work with the word ‘disability’?
Motion Disabled
Motion Disabled by Simon McKeown, a disabled artist from Yorkshire, uses motion capture technology to map the movements of disabled people doing everyday things. The real-time film of the individuals' movements are then translated by a computer into a 3-D replica. This motion is then transferred on to a simple animated figure and the computer-animated figures are displayed in a looped series of motion captures.
Imagine being given permission to study the motions of those who move differently. What if, instead of staring being frowned upon, you were actively encouraged to find the beauty, the exotic and the normal within such movement?
Simon is an established digital creator with a radical interest in re-presenting disability in new and innovative ways whose interest in the field stems from life experience; he has brittle bones and was born into a disabled family and wider community, in which disability was common and seen as normal.
Further information
The event will also include the perspectives of other disabled artists such as Steven Harrison, some of whom choose not to create work that reflects upon their impairment or to mention their disability in relation to their work.
The event will take place from 2-5pm and be followed by an opportunity to eat, drink, rest and network before travelling to the prime viewing site for Motion Disabled’s showing as part of Light Night Leeds.
From 6.30pm until the early hours of the morning, the Motion Disabled animations will light up the Leeds skyline projected onto the side of Leeds College of Technology including a brand new capture of Yorkshire disabled sportsperson, Richard Brook. (The prime viewing site is approximately 250m from the event location with a level path, please contact us direct for further access information).
In the morning of 9th October, Projecting into the Future is holding a smaller event for disabled artists in particular to share perspectives on how disability is seen within the arts sector (10.30 – 12.30pm). BSL interpretation is provided for both events.
To book a place at either or both events...
Please email joverrent@adainc.org
Projecting into the Future and Simon McKeown’s involvement in Light Night is funded by Arts Council England, and produced by ADA inc.
Comments
If you have any thoughts or ideas of what we are missing here, do let us know by adding a comment. You can never have too much of a good thing!
Natalie
Hi Jo,
I would really like to receive any note from the seminar which took place on 9 October 09. Would it be possible to email me some?
Also, please add my email address to your distribution list so I can receive future event information.
Thanks,
Natalie
Hi Jo,
I would really like to receive any note from the seminar which took place on 9 October 09. Would it be possible to email me some?
Also, please add my email address to your distribution list so I can receive future event information.
Thanks,
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