On December 18, we culminated two season-long collaborations with Northeast Contemporary Services, Inc. (NCSI) with a performance and photo exhibit of The Art of Me. Through drumming, dance, theatrical scenes, and poetry, artists with disabilities took center stage in the midst of a photography exhibit showcasing their peers.
The Art of Me: My Friends Are Like The Ocean began with performers introducing themselves in pairs with danced, gestural, and spoken hellos.
One of Upstream Arts’ foundational concepts is the power of the arts as a tool for communications. Different media allow us to have conversations beyond words. In The Art of Me, performers conversed with each other using drums, sometimes to hilarious effect. They also held conversations through visual arts, painting on a shared canvas.
In a series of interviews, performers shared their expertise on a wide range of topics, including Snoopy, stars, and the changing of the seasons. Performers also shared theatrical vignettes that touched on a love of YouTube, tips for how to calm down when you’re too excited, a self-advocate saying no to an over-reaching friend, and a pizza party with increasingly adventurous flavors.
Using assistive buttons, one performer lead the group in a chorus of “Yes,” “No” and “I don’t know.”
Another performer lead a movement orchestra with a rainbow of scarves that evolved into a group improvised dance with the scarves.
The ensemble shared a poem they had collaboratively written (featuring apple pie and dancing like a squirrel) by embodying the poem with movement while a Teaching Artist orated.
With visual prompts, the group created a spontaneous dance, embodying inspirations from animals and emotions.
The show ended with an a capella song proclaiming “my friends are like an ocean, they bring me calm.”
After the show, audience members mingled and congratulated the performers while taking in the photography exhibit displayed on the walls of the space. Portraits featured participants from the second Art of Me residency sharing images of how they wished to be seen.
It was a joyful experience, with one audience member commenting, “You found each actors’ gifts and used those strengths to help them shine on stage…. I loved your show on so many levels.”
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
All our work is made possible by the generosity of our community of supporters. Join us in using the creative arts to activate and amplify the voice and choice of individuals with disabilities.
All photos credit Molly Weibel Ulring / 1000 Words Photography
