worl
World Premiere:
Reel Abilities Film Festival 2019
I, Adam Cohoon, have existed and operated as an Independent Artist since 2003. I consider my artistic practice to be multidisciplinary and deeply connected to my activism for accessibility and disability. My main foci, coincident with my developmental path and deeper interest are Photography, Multimedia –which I include Film, video, vlogging, blogging, youtubing, Writing, Public Speaking and Design/Interactive/Conceptual, the latter of which are relatively newer to me, but nevertheless form a part of my practice.
I have pioneered and developed a manner in which I use a GoPro camera affixed to my powered wheelchair, and usable computer and laptop, to independently developed and produce my photographic and film work.
I have presented film work at the Opening of the Toronto Free Gallery, Camera Bar, Tangled Art Gallery, and the University of Toronto Disability Art Show. I first gained wider recognition with the Disability and Media community through my selection to the National Film Board Momentum Program, with Don Peuramaki, and recently to the HotDoc Diverse Voices Program (2016).
See Also
https://www.toronto.com/opinion-story/9356325-don-t-just-show-disability-in-media-think-about-who-does-the-showing/
https://www.toronto.com/opinion-story/9356325-don-t-just-show-disability-in-media-think-about-who-does-the-showing/
Skjfaskljfalsjf
Ken Harrower is a trained actor, writer, playwright, singer/songwriter, and disability and LGBTQ activist who has appeared in multiple award winning films as well as having received attention in the news media about his work. His impressive and substantial career are all the more impressive when contextualized with the substantial barriers he faced, having been raised in the foster care system of Manitoba in the 1960s, living with significant physical disability, facing utter misunderstanding to his life state as people considered him mentally disabled and of low intelligence, counter to the reality, adding to the fact that he was and is also gay. As such Ken faced immense discrimination and homophobia, abuse, and barriers, physical, emotional, psychological, simply trying to grow up and be himself. To his immense credit, he endured and developed, overcoming immense challenge and barrier, and eventually becoming an actor, whose work is award winning, who is also , who is currently working on his own one-man play.
This film project will explore Ken's life and perspective, exploring him world and works, exploring what his expression is when he is Barrier Free. In an ambitious leap, this project also aims to transcend with Ken, going back to his beginnings in Flin Flon, Manitoba, where the sad rumour has it he was discovered in a trash dumpster, and on to Carrot River Saskatchewan, where the birth parents he never met are buried. Exploring some form of understanding and closure.
THE
T
THE STREETS ARE NOT EMPTY
The homeless men of Toronto during COVID-19
Allan Cullen is a disability activist. He is an award wining graduate of
the art centre, a three year arts program at Central Tech where he
studied Fine Arts. His work documents social issues particularly
homelessness and disability. He has had his work shown at numerous
galleries over the past decade.
Allan knows
difficulty, hardship and what it means to live “rough” in the city. He has
endured a tough life and existence and uses his life and art to bring to light
the experience of those inhabiting the streets and shelters of Toronto, the
city’s homeless community. During the global COVID-19 pandemic, this mission
has only grown of import. While those with homes have been able to quarantine,
to quote Allan “ The Streets are not empty”, as this disenfranchised segment of
our society has had an even harsher experience.
This film project,
fully recognizes the difficulty of the subject matter in all respects (ethics,
challenge in production, sensitivity. The proposed film project will be focused
on Allan, his work, and his exploration of this subject matter. Allan has been
active through the pandemic (fortunately still at good health), and has
compiled footage. This project will compile the footage, work it together with
him, his presence, input, and will be a combination of the exploration of the
subject matter, and of Allan’s exploration of it.
The proposed short
film will have a length of 12-15 minutes. It will be engaged with Allan on his
artists mission and work, it will introduce and be interspersed with his
interviews with homeless men, as well as his photography. There will also be a
poetic and musical component provided by Anthony Van Zant, a collaborator of
Allan’s who is a street survivor with lived experience “on the curb” who will
be providing poetry and music for this film.
Allan Cullen Photo by Sean Howard, 2016
See Also:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XcfD-VQV7E
https://medium.com/intercity-toronto/allan-cullen-5734d8858ef0
