Monday 17 September 2012

Arts & Disability Ireland on Culture Night

There is never a dull moment when Jessica Casey is around – with her long purple nails, UGG boots, piña coladas, her dog Rosie and her plans to go to Ibiza, or to Australia, or to invent a new lipstick, or to become a farmer - or maybe a nun?

A Screening of ‘Jessica Casey – The Film’ and readings from ‘Jessica Casey and Other Works’
in Temple Bar as part of

Culture Night Friday 21st September

Arts & Disability Ireland are delighted to be presenting two related activities, readings and a film, as part of Dublin’s Culture Night on 21st September.

From 5.30pm there will be readings from ‘Jessica Casey and Other Works’, a collection of poetry by Away with Words, an innovative arts project in which people with intellectual disabilities explore creativity through writing. The readings will be given by well-known actors in locations across Temple Bar. These events will be followed at 7.45pm by a screening of animated short ‘Jessica Casey – The Film’, in Meeting House Square, which brings to cinematic life one of the main characters created by the authors of the book. There is never a dull moment when Jessica Casey is around – with her long purple nails, UGG boots, piña coladas, her dog Rosie and her plans to go to Ibiza, or to Australia, or to invent a new lipstick, or to become a farmer - or maybe a nun?

‘Jessica Casey and Other Works’ is the first formal publication of Away with Words, which was dreamed up by Claude and Mary Madec and set up as a collaboration between local writers and That’s Life (an initiative of the Brothers of Charity Services in County Galway to support people with intellectual disabilities to engage in the arts life of their communities.)

Mary Madec says, “In the individual poems… you will get many insights into how these writers see, feel, taste and hear the world they live in… Poetry also develops an ability to observe and listen to others as well as to oneself. It teaches empathy and compassion…” The book features the three poems that won First, Second and Third in the Inclusion Ireland Poetry Awards.

The12-minute animated short ‘Jessica Casey – The Film’ was created with the collaboration of members of Away with Words collective and visual artist Aideen Barry. The tour de force that is Jessica Casey was brought to cinematic life using stop motion animation and inspired by the films of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton.

Many of the writers, artists and stars of this project will be in attendance for the Culture Night screening and readings.

Padraig Naughton, Director of Arts & Disability Ireland, says, “In championing the creativity of artists with disabilities, ADI is continually seeking out the very best in artistic practice from at home and abroad. ‘Jessica and Other Works’ is an exemplary Irish collaboration. First premièred at Galway’s 2012 Cuírt International Festival of Literature, ADI is delighted to showcase this beautiful film and thought provoking writing with a Dublin audience on Culture Night.”

These presentations are part of Arts & Disability Ireland’s on-going and internationally-recognised work creating lasting change in the way people with disabilities are involved with, and engage in, artistic and cultural life in Ireland. Arts & Disability Ireland is the resource and development organization for Arts and Disability in Ireland. They champion the creativity of artists with disabilities; promote inclusive experiences for audiences with disabilities and work to enhance the disability-related capacity of arts organizations.

The readings will take place in the following locations:

5.30pm – 5.45pm: Gutter Book Shop, Cows Lane, Temple Bar

6.00pm – 6.15pm: Queen of Tarts, Cows Lane, Temple Bar

7.00pm – 7.15pm: Outside Project Arts Centre, 39 Essex Street East, Temple Bar

Or look out for the hot pink umbrella’s….

7.45pm – 7.57pm: Screening of Jessica Casey, Meeting House Square, Temple Bar.

Arts and Disability Ireland would like to acknowledge the support of Salmon Poetry, publishers of ‘Jessica Casey and Other Works.’

2 comments:

Titus said...

Thanks for that EW, it could be really useful to me in my other life.

Emerging Writer said...

See can you friend Mary Madec on facebook. She's heavily involved.