Kickstart Festival 2010: Disability arts & culture

The Kickstart Disability Arts and Culture has been presenting visual and performing artists with various disabilities from all over the world for more than 10 years.  Their goal is to present the best of a dynamic global cultural movement and to encourage collaboration between professional artists with and without disabilities. 

This year’s Kickstart Festival, part of the 2010 Cultural Olympiad, presents Heroes, an art exhibit that presents a mixture of emerging and established artists. Twenty visual artists from across Canada explore the meaning of “heroism” from a disability perspective.  The exhibit runs to March 27 at the HSBC Pendulum Gallery, 885 W. Georgia Street.  Gallery Hours: Mon – Wed. 9am – 6 pm; Thursday and Friday 9 am – 9 pm. Saturday 9 am – 5 pm. Closed Sundays and holidays.

Other Kickstart Festival events:

• “She Laughed, She Cried”  Two extraordinary women who have a unique ability to touch your deepest emotions: Sara Marreiros sings Portuguese Fado and Jan Derbshire perfroms a rollikcing monologue. Friday, March 12 At the Telus Studio Theatre, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, 6265 Crescent Rd. UBC  8 pm
• “Breath and Body“  a workshop with two gifted artists, Peggy Baker and Fides Krucker perfom musician Ahmed Hassan’s work Geometry of the Circle Jarislowsky Studio, Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie St (at Granville)  March 14, 11.30 am – 3.30 pm  $35 (space limited to 12 persons)
• “Innovation and Accident”  artist Bill Shannon leads you through a course in creative movement with the application of theatrical methods, interdisciplinary dance and media.  Friday March 19  4 – 7 PM   (limited to 20 persons. $25) Jarislowsky Studio, Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie Street at Granville.
•  “Out from Under: Disbility, History and Things to Remember” an award-winning display in thirteen installations that presents a compelling snapshot of the history of people with disabilities in Canada. To March 21 UBC Robson Square, 800 Robson Street.  Open Daily: Monday – Friday 8 am – 10 pm Saturday and Sunday 9 am – 5 pm Free.
• “Configurations”  Three dance performances.  “earthling” with Choreographer/Dancer: Peggy Baker.  Music: Debashis Sinha  March 21 Gala only) 
• “Geometry of the Circle”a remount of the critically-acclaimed duet choreographed by Peggy Baker.  Dancer: Alison Dehnam, Vocalist Mark Brose Music by Ahmed Hassan. March 20/21
• “Spatial Theory” influenced by house and hip hop dance forms, silent film acting and skateboard culture.  Performed with a live DJ.  Dancer, Bill Shannon. March 21 Gala Reception     All performances at the Roundhouse Performance Centre 101 Roundhouse Mews, Yaletown.  March 20 8 pm ($35 ($25 students, seniors)  March 21 Gala: 6.30pm Reception 8 pm Performance $75.
• Tickets   604-62-4966
• Kickstart Arts and Culture  info@kickstart-arts.

Art Credits: Domino: Demon Design 2002