"Prepare to be AAAWD..."

Watch AAAWD's new PSA for the Nov. 21 & 22 show at The Play Ground!



Todd and Ben filmed our video in blue screen and added cool special effects at PACT studios in Duluth. Bridget did the animation, plus additional editing and special effects. Local band Tangier 57 (www.tangier57.com) did the music. Featured AAAWD artists in the video are: Karl, Dave, Ben, Roald, Bridget, Todd and Ryan.

Finger snappin, toe-tappin... Come see our show! Join our group!

See the post below this one for more information about our upcoming event, "An AAAWD Evening" at The Play Ground in Duluth.

Announcing AAAWD's multi-media debut at the Play Ground!

Friday & Saturday, November 21-22, 2008
"An AAAWD Evening"
The Play Ground
Technology Village (main level)
11 East Superior Street, Duluth, MN
6:30 pm | Artists' Reception featuring Harpist, Christina Cotruvo
7:30 pm | Part I: AAAWD Little Films
8:30 pm | Part II: CHOICE Dancers & BOLD-Choice Theater Company
Tickets $5 (general admission at the door)
Box Office: 218-733-7555

"An AAAWD Evening" will open at 6:30 p.m. with a reception in the lobby gallery where AAAWD’s 2D and 3D artwork will be on display. Complimentary refreshments will be served and artwork will be for sale. The reception will also include live music by harpist, Christina Cotruvo. Performances in the theater begin at 7:30 p.m. with “Part I: AAAWD Little Films” featuring short animation and adventure films by Ben Giesen, Todd Reed and Bridget Riversmith. Members of CHOICE, unlimited’s dance program will open “Part II: AAAWD Twists and Turns,” followed by BOLD-Choice Theater Company performing selected scenes from their latest production, Romeo and Juliet’s Tragic Comedy. Question and answer sessions will close each part, and the ‘Evening will conclude at 9:30 p.m. Tickets for this all-ages event are $5 (general admission at the door). Front row wheelchair-accessible seating and ASL interpreters will be available each night of the event.

According to AAAWD co-founder, Bridget Riversmith, “‘An AAAWD Evening’ is about expanding notions of ability and normality by adding our own definitions and experience to the equation through art. Our acronym sounds like “odd” and “awed” – words that echo what it’s like being an artist with a disability in America. The trajectory of our group is from odd to awed via artwork, humor, friendship and open minds.”

Arrowhead Alliance of Artists With Disabilities (AAAWD):

The underlying inspiration for AAAWD (and their logo) is the stone soup fable wherein a few stones placed in a pot of boiling water become both pretext and catalyst for creating something from nothing, and revealing nothing to be something after all.

AAAWD began in 2006 with a series of VSA arts of Minnesota-sponsored meetings which brought together individual artists and arts organizations from around the state to discuss forming artists with disabilities collectives in Greater Minnesota. In 2007, local artists with disabilities were invited by VSA and the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council to several meetings in Duluth to lay the foundation for a new collective. In early 2008, VSA arts provided grant money to help fund our group projects and outreach activities.

The current core membership includes these visual artists, actors, directors, musicians and filmmakers: Pete B., Christina Cotruvo, Ben Giesen, David Hoffman, Ryan Iallonardo, Julie Jeatran, Cecilia Lieder, Bill Lyth, Roald Molberg (co-founder), Karl Mulligan, Sarah Nord, Justin Powers, Todd Reed, Bridget Riversmith (co-founder) and Annie Roseen.


CHOICE, unlimited’s ARTS (Activities Revealing Talents & Skills) Programs:

CHOICE, unlimited’s dance program, Movement & Dance: Emotion in Motion, challenges participants to explore the potential of their body’s individualized expression of movement. Participants gain greater body awareness and control. They also work to become less inhibited in expressing emotions and movement in front of others. The performance for “An AAAWD Evening” is a culmination of a series of moves explored during a ten-week program. We have put together a dance performance piece to the music of R&B, hip-hop artists N.E.R.D. The song is entitled “Maybe” and it represents a range of emotion and physical movement. Dancers include: Pete B., Ken S., Roxanne N., Rebecca K., Sean K., and Kevin R.

BOLD-Choice Theater Company introduces adults with disabilities to the world of theater and performing arts. BOLD (Battling Obstacles Living with Disabilities) provides a unique style of theater performance, exposing student audiences to the talents of individuals with disabilities, opening new channels for dialogue, and providing a venue to “talk” across barriers. Annie Roseen is Theatre Arts Instructor and Director, as well as Instructor of Dance at CHOICE, unlimited. Actors include: Pete B., Lloyd G., Ken S., Tanya K., Shannon H., and Annie R.

Romeo and Juliet’s Tragic Comedy is an original piece created by the BOLD-choice Theatre Company based on the Shakespearean classic tale of star-cross’d love. In the BOLD version of the story, the characters face the realities of discrimination, stereotyping, alienation and group think. They also experience the joys of young love, friendship, family and unification. As the story unfolds, the actors themselves get a chance to share the challenges they have personally encountered, as well their own hopes and wishes. Romeo and Juliet’s Tragic Comedy allows the audience a chance to experience a new world with an entertaining and honest twist on the age old story of love and hate.

The scene being performed for “An AAAWD Evening” is BOLD’s take on Romeo and Juliet’s iconic balcony scene featuring comedic twists on the traditional characters. This scene features a pair of Juliets and a pair of Romeos trying to connect with the correct partner. Confusion abounds!

Framed!

We'll be having a party to mat and/or frame our artwork for "An AAAWD Evening" on Wednesday NOVEMBER 5, 2008 from 5 pm (til we're done) @ SOFT HANDS. DRCC Soft Hands is located at: 1902 East Superior St. in Duluth (1 block East of HDC's CSP offices). Look for the building resembling a convenience store on the South side of the street. If you have any questions, contact Todd Reed. Soft Hands is located on busline: DTA Route 6 - 7 East Mainline UMD - Lakeside. All matting and framing materials will be provided for those who need it thanks to our grant from VSA arts of Minnesota!