Encouraging Artistic Entrepreneurship

Earlier this month VSA Texas was invited to present at the Houston Arts Partners Conference. The Houston Arts Partners collaboration was created in response to a specific request from Houston area education administrators for a more efficient and effective method to access arts educational resources in Houston. The 2018 Conference was called "Synergy" and all about highlighting arts partnerships for students with diverse learning needs. Well this sounded right up our alley! So we put together a panel presentation called "Encouraging Artistic Entrepreneurship: How Artists with Disabilities Navigate Today's Gig Economy."

Our panel consisted of four young Houston artists. First, Wes Holloway. We have known him for quite some time at VSA Texas. We met when he was attending UT Austin. Wes paints amazing realistic pieces and is currently focusing on smaller collage work. He is a teaching artist and volunteers for United Spinal Association.

The next artist on our panel was Grant Manier. We met Grant when he was just a teenager starting out on his journey of art. He does eco-art using recycled paper. His most recent endeavor is a book he wrote with his mom called "Grant the Jigsaw Giraffe."

We then had Alisha Momin. Alisha was a participant in our Opening Minds, Opening Doors program when we took that to Houston. She creates jewelry, scarves, and potpourri as well. Alisha is an outgoing and adventurous young woman who enjoys making art and especially enjoys the part where she can meet people as she tries to sell it.

And finally Megan Fry, a young woman with whom we recently became acquainted. She uses an interesting technique called eye gaze to create digital art. She is also a college student at University of Houston. This was the first event we have done with Megan and she was delightful.

Grant, Alisha, April, Wes, and Megan at the HAP Conference after their presentation

At the conference, we had an hour long discussion about working as an artist with a disability. I don't have room in this blog to tell you everything, but here are some highlights!

• Most of our panelists were interested in art from a young age. Their advice to teachers: let your students with disabilities give it a try. Don't assume they can't do what everyone else is doing. Find ways to adapt and ask them how they want to adapt the lesson. Be ready to explore with them!
• Making the art is what comes naturally! But what about showing and selling your work? You might need a manager. And in many cases that is a "Mom-ager" or a "Dad-ager." They can be very helpful on the business skills, the transportation, and always the cheerleading!
• Working as an artist at home can have its challenges. Sometimes you need to get out of the isolation of working at home. Get out and see the world for inspiration as well as networking opportunities.
• Pricing your work is not easy. One tip is to start with a base price based on size. But whatever you do, never underestimate your worth!

I always enjoy an event where I can show off the talents of VSA Texas artists. Each artist did a great job talking about their work and were very professional panelists. We had a great time at the 2018 HAP Conference!

Support Houston Artists with Disabilities

Although we are based in Austin, VSA Texas strives to serve the state of Texas as much as we can. The annual Houston Abilities Expo is one of those times we get a chance to showcase our Houston artists. And we have lots of talent in Houston!

The Expo is a great opportunity for people with disabilities to see the latest and greatest in wheelchairs, accessible vans, and assistive technology. It is also a place to learn about resources from across the state. What we bring to the event is an opportunity for people to learn about VSA Texas and to help artists with disabilities make a living off their artwork. You can be a direct participant in this by buying something creative and handmade by one of our Artist Market artisans.

"Buy Local Art" button

So if you plan to attend the event, consider bringing some extra money to purchase gift items such as keychains, t-shirts, or jewelry from Younique Abilities. Or if you are a reader, support Houston science fiction writer Ron Hull by buying one of his books. If you are a music lover, buy a CD from Eric Clow. And almost everyone I know has walls in their home. Don't leave them blank! Buy art to decorate them. We will have photographs by Drew Bedo, digital paintings by Megan Fry, drawings by David Sulak, and mixed media art by Dee Franklin. Oh, and I can't forget about the spoons! We have Cuddle Spoons in the Artist Market this year! What are Cuddle Spoons? Come find out at the Artist Market in the Abilities Expo. Read about all of the artists in the Artist Market here.

Windmill Drawing by David Sulak

The Abilities Expo is happening next Friday-Sunday, August 4-6 in Hall E of the NRG Center in Houston. It is a free event. You can register and find more details on the Abilities Expo website.

Abilities Expo Promo Photo shows a man in a walker holding his fist in the air triumphantly.

If you can't buy anything, come anyway and support our artists by looking at their art and hearing their stories. Some of our artists will also present a workshop at the Expo Friday at 11:45 AM. In their workshop entitled "The Art of a Hobby: How to Make the Creative World Accessible to You," artists Eric Clow, Drew Bedo, and Dee Franklin will share tips, tricks, and workarounds they used to make their arts accessible and encourage you to unlock your own creative passions.

We hope to see you at the Expo!

A Tale of Two Showcases, Part 2

After the whirlwind journey of our OMOD showcase in Austin, we hit the road to do the same thing in Houston. (Read all about Austin in Part 1 here!) Despite our hopes for an early departure last Friday (the 13th, as it turned out), we arrived at the Alley Theatre with only 15 minutes to spare before our rehearsal was set to begin. Houston welcomed us, as always, with traffic, a feud with our GPS, and massive, many-lane freeways we had to cross instantaneously to reach our exits.

Soon, the other van from Austin carrying Celia, Chris, Jennifer, and Adrianna arrived, the participants from our Houston program filtered in, and we began acquainting ourselves with the beautiful Alley Theatre Texas Room, running through the blocking of the showcase, and offering notes to each performer on how to best make their stories come alive. As in Austin, we were tremendously thankful to have Chris Strickling of Actual Lives fame on our team, and she, along with Alex, our Houston facilitator, Celia, and Nicole, worked wonders to bring out everyone's best performances yet. We wrapped up the rehearsal at 8pm and returned to our hotel for a desperately needed dinner and glass of wine (or two). By the time I collided with my bed, I was out like a light.

Chris coaches Adam on his speech during rehearsal.

The next day we all met at the Alley Theatre at noon, and soon after, the wave of stress that normally precedes a big showcase impacted us like a speeding train. I remember looking over the Texas Room at the fury of activity – participants practicing speeches before coaches, Alley Theatre employees arranging paperwork, ice water, and plastic cups on a table by the door, my attendant Nic gaffer-taping mic cables to the floor with the lightning speed and precision of someone with ample experience on film sets – and thinking, "there's no way we're going to be ready in time." Of course, I was wrong, and each heart-dropping problem was solved swiftly and intelligently.

A sign in the lobby of the Alley Theatre directs
audience members to our showcase in the Texas Room.

The showcase itself was certainly not free of bumps – the immediate failure of the lavalier mic mirrored a collision of wheelchairs at the start of the Austin showcase just a week before – but even so, the stories were simply too good to fail, and besides, what in life doesn't involve a bump or two? The unflinching demeanor of the participants in the face of each technical hurdle also reflected their impressive growth in the past six months as well as their confidence in their stories and their speaking ability. Every story resonated with humor, humanity, and the unique personality of the speaker telling it.

Special thanks to our friends at the Alley Theatre and Theatre Under the Stars, but more specifically Mary Sutton, Mara McGhee, Eileen Edmonds, and David Oliver, for their crucial support of our Houston program and making this all possible. Thanks also to our facilitators, staff, and other assistants including Alex Odom, Chris Strickling, Celia Hughes, Nicole Cortichiato, and Una Lau. Finally, a big congratulations is in order for all of our Houston and Austin speakers who gave excellent performances across the board. It was a wonderful honor to work with all of you, and I look forward to see what you all accomplish next!

The OMOD crew poses for a photo after the showcase.
From left to right: Adrianna, Alex, Jennifer, Veronica,
myself, Adam, Alisha, Russell, and John.

Keep Your Eyes on Houston!

Hi all! Remember me, Nicole Cortichiato? Well if you don’t, I’m the Project Facilitator for the Opening Minds, Opening Doors program. What’s new, you ask? These glasses for one but I am getting used to them. I just wanted something a little more bold and with color, ya know? I think I’ve accomplished that. Yes, they are prescription.

Me and my brand new green glasses!

What else is new? Our second round of Houston classes!!! Eric and I have been Skyping into all of our OMOD classes in Houston, and we know you’ll be excited about our upcoming show on May 14th. I guarantee the stories will entertain you. But I can’t reveal all the details, so let me just give you a few appetizers before the main dish. Here’s a taste of what you can look forward to in our Houston showcase:

• From Alisha's "Kemah Boardwalk" Story: The safety bar locks into place. I feel the pressure of the bar against me. My head fills with excitement. I can't wait for The Inverter to flip me upside down. I can feel the sun on my face as the ride starts to move. The ride goes upside down really fast! Then it flips me right side up again! Flipping and flipping like a pancake. 

• From John's "Learning to Swim Again" Story: At first, I hesitated. I just froze, and smelled the chlorine, and listened to voices echo on the water. I thought: do I really want to go in there? I wasn’t sure I would remember how to swim. But I got into the special chair by the pool edge, and it lowered me into the water.

• From Russell's "Chicken Suit" Story: I walked the streets, passing out coupons. And nobody knew it was me in the costume unless they saw me get dressed. And this one girl said, "Thank God they got someone else to wear that costume!"

The Houston speakers posing for a photo
after their first class showcase December 19th

Well that’s it. No more appetizers for you. Save room, my pretty’s. And be sure to join us at the Alley Theater in Houston on May 14th to hear the complete stories and mingle with our OMOD speakers. Perhaps you might even be encouraged to write one of you own. We certainly hope so! Stay tuned to our Facebook and website for more details!

Houston, We Have a Showcase

Hey folks, Eric here with another road trip adventure!

Before the Christmas break, my attendant Nolan and I hit the road again, this time to Houston for the conclusion of a six-week OMOD class at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center (MMSC). Throughout the preceding several weeks, seven self-advocates in Houston had been hard at work, each writing and preparing a personal story to present at the final class showcase on December 19th. This showcase would also be the first time I would meet any of them in person since up to that point I had only seen or spoken to them via Skype.

When Nolan and I arrived in Houston, we ate a lunch of monstrous sandwiches at Cafe Express, and then began setting up the mic equipment for the showcase at the MMSC. Participants slowly filtered in with scripts and heightened nerves. Once everyone arrived, Alex, the Houston class facilitator, led the participants in some silly and relaxing warm-up activities. Afterward, we did a quick technical rehearsal of the showcase, filled out evaluations, and then the group spread out to practice their speeches or meditate, as needed. By 2:45pm, we had all taken our places, and family members and friends formed our small yet formidable audience. As emcee, I kicked off the showcase a few minutes before 3pm.

Adam spoke first about his unique abilities. Alisha spoke second about her recent trip to Camp Summit in Dallas. Russell spoke about the numerous jobs he's had, passing out coupons in a chicken suit and delivering room service at the Sheraton among the more notable ones. John told a story about when he played the Grinch in "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" at Theater Under the Stars. Tony's story was "Everything You Need to Know About Me," a charming glimpse into his life with an emphasis on his family, friends, girlfriend, and love of football. Joseph spoke about his journey to the church and his dream of becoming a minister. Alec concluded the showcase with a story about what's important in his life.

The Houston Seven posing with their writing facilitator

Each story ended in great applause, and we received positive feedback from everybody after the showcase. As usual, there were a few unexpected issues, like a cell phone ringing in the middle of one participant's speech, another participant grabbing the wrong copy of his script, and a third participant getting emotional when reading his speech. I believe though that every mishap only strengthened the participant speaking because public speeches rarely go exactly the way we expect, and it's important to realize that and get used to it sooner rather than later.

Once we said our goodbyes to the participants, staff, and audience members, we left the MMSC and went to visit Nolan's grandmother Marian at her retirement home, which felt much more like an upbeat, stationary cruise ship than a retirement home – in every direction were snazzily-dressed seniors lounging, playing cards, and guzzling glasses of wine. Marian treated us to a dinner of grilled salmon and wild rice in the cafeteria, and I quietly ate while Nolan and Marian caught up.

After dinner, we drove back into the heart of downtown Houston for an art installation/music festival called "Day for Night." Nolan's half-brother had gotten extra tickets that he invited us to use, so we decided to check it out. As we entered the festival, Janelle Monae was on stage singing a soulful cover of James Brown's "I Feel Good." (Please note: videos from "Day for Night" below may take a few minutes to load.)

Artsy lights and images were projected on the outsides of the art installation buildings around the festival grounds. The first installation we saw was like the warehouse set from some apocalyptic movie – bright lights suddenly flashed on and off at the far end of a grid of steel beams while a soundtrack of metallic clicks and thunderous booms played in the background.

In the next installation, streams of light projected on a translucent screen shot up and down like massive ocean waves, seeming to morph briefly into vaguely human figures before falling back into abstract streams.

By far the most adventurous moment of the festival was my trip to the bathroom, which in this case was a couple dozen porta potties set on a three-inch raised wooden platform and surrounded by five feet of rough, muddy terrain. I paused there briefly, contemplating the difficult path to the porta potties and thinking that there must be an accessible path somewhere, until several inebriated dudes in black jackets emerged out of nowhere, started lifting up my chair, and attempted to carry it across the mud. I didn't really know what to do, so I just held on and hoped for the best. Luckily, within minutes, I landed victoriously on the platform unscathed, but as I suspected, there was, in fact, an accessible path just around the corner.

We then wandered into a third and final building, which had a number of smaller light projections by various artists and another stage.

We ordered a round of hot toddies and slowly explored the building. Then Battles walked out on stage, and we stayed to watch their set of layered electronic loops, angular guitar rhythms, and extended jams.

After such a long day, we were tired and made our way to the exit. The big outside stage was counting down the minutes until New Order was scheduled to play, and I heard some random woman yell, "Bye forever!" Well, I hope that's not the case with Houston.

OMOD Conference Season & Other Happenings – Part 1

Greetings devoted blog readers! It's Eric here, and I'd like to share some recent happenings in my life as OMOD project coordinator and self-taught, DIY musician/songwriter:

At the start of each summer, while many Austinites prepare themselves for three months of near-suffocating heat with a full Netflix instant watch list and prayers that the A/C doesn't break, we here at OMOD ready ourselves for a jam-packed conference season. We call it “conference season” because many of the conferences where we regularly present occur within a month-long period of time, starting in the second half of July and ending in the middle of August. During this time, we literally organize one conference session after another. Before we have a chance to breathe and reflect on the success of one conference session, we are all ready preparing for the next one.

This is also an exciting time when we begin to see our speakers' hard work and training truly pay off. New speakers, who were painfully shy only months earlier, find themselves commanding attention from audiences of between 40 and 60 total strangers while older speakers, who have been with OMOD for over a year, assume greater responsibilities as session emcees and mentors to newer, less experienced speakers.

 OMOD speaker Renee kicks off our session,
"Getting Real about Getting Out," at the
Texas Advocates Conference in Dallas.

At San Japan, OMOD speaker Jessica facilitated her own panel without any assistance from OMOD staff for an audience of almost 50 conference attendees. She navigated the entire process from drafting a panel proposal through the actual conference session independently.

In addition to San Japan, OMOD speakers also presented at the Texas Advocates Conference in Dallas, the Texas Association of Vocational Adjustment Coordinators (TAVAC) Conference in Houston, the Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) Conference in San Antonio, and an artists’ panel at DARS’ Celebration for the 25th Anniversary of the ADA here in Austin.

Of course, OMOD conference season is not completely chaos-free. The occasional snafu does occur, as when we plan a session for 30 people and then more than 60 people show up or when we plan to break a session up into multiple groups in the same room and it gets far noisier than expected, but each mistake gives us the opportunity to learn, improve, and make our future sessions stronger. Perhaps the most important lesson we have learned is to be flexible and to think on our feet when our best-laid plans are not working. In the end, seeing our speakers' personal growth and increased independence is what makes this one of the more rewarding seasons of my job.

Stay tuned for Part 2 with recent happenings in my music life!

Back in My Hometown of Houston

Hi VSA Texas friends! It’s your Artworks Director April Sullivan here, and I will be traveling to Houston this week to host the Artist Market at the annual Abilities Expo. This is one of my favorite events of the year because we get a chance to serve our Houston artists with disabilities on their home turf… and mine!

I was born in Houston and grew up there until I moved to Austin to go to UT. And you know how that goes – once you move to Austin, you stay! But I still really love Houston and the art scene there. So it is always a pleasure to travel back and visit the galleries and museums. But I will only have a little bit of time for that this week, as I will be spending most of my time at the NRG Center July 31-Aug 2 with six wonderful artists, showing and selling their work to a crowd of people, learning all about the latest and greatest in accessible vehicles, software, tools, and gadgets.

Visit the VSA Texas Artist Market at Booths 436 & 437

We have a great group of artists this year. Back with new work and prints of their all-time favorites are Grant Manier, teenage Eco-Artist, and Brian Dodd of Doddman Gallery. While their art is very different in style, these artists have a few things in common: both have autism and dedicated mothers who help them market their art.

"Night and Day" by Grant Manier  

"General Train Arms Jim" by Brian Dodd

Also joining us this year, after a short hiatus, is author Ron Hull. He will practically be giving his books away this year! So don’t miss his great works of science fiction and his newest work, an autobiography. All signed by Ron in person.

Two women artists, who debuted at the Abilities Expo last year, are back: Lesa Jackson and Una Lau. Lesa paints fun colorful images of peace and love. Una, however, will be selling unique wooden boxes and prints of her poetry paired with her brother’s photographs of Hawaii.

And new to the Artist Market this year is David Sulak from Louise, TX. His autism and OCD make it hard for him to travel, so he has entrusted me with his drawings and construction pieces. Prepare to be wowed by his simple yet detailed style (see below).

“Cars and Trucks” by David Sulak

To learn more about these artists, visit the Artist Market page on the Abilities Expo website here: http://www.abilities.com/houston/pavilions_artist.html

We look forward to seeing you at the Abilities Expo this year!