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The SPARK Disability Art Festival is a Calgary-wide celebration of creative selfexpression by emerging and professional artists pan-disability.
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Scott Berry “Confusement� mixed media installation
SPARK is co-produced annually by In-Definite Arts and Studio C and aims to enhance the development of disability arts and culture both locally and globally. To do this, SPARK advances a creative vision of equality that explores the different themes and diverse aspects of the disability experience through visual art. Working with artists with visible and invisible disabilities, SPARK’s shared purpose is to foster Disability Pride. SPARK 2015 ran from November 30 to December 4, 2015 and was bigger than ever, including keynote speakers, panels, exhibits and workshops sponsored by the Canada Council for the Arts.
feeling of being stared at but no one can see who you are”. As a metaphor for disability, Scott’s installation confronted ideas about difference, diversity and stereotyping head on. SPARK’s remaining exhibitions came together organically, as creative expressions of the complexity of the disability experience. In total In-Definite Arts and Studio C juried a series of five art shows across Calgary, including: “Terrifical” at Arts Commons, “Knowledgement” at ACAD, “Confusement” at Loft 112, “Dramaticalism” at Studio C & “Imaginational” at In-Definite Arts. Over 130 pieces of art were showcased, reaching an estimated audience of 4000 viewers in just 5 days. SPARK 2015 was curated by Colin Menzies, Daniel Cristini, Mark Vazquez-Mackay and Roxanne Taylor, with special thanks to the Jury Committee: Dani Mortson, Erin O’Toole, Jean Snowden and Morgan Paul.
For exhibition, SPARK’s curatorial team received an outstanding 223 submissions including visual art applications from across Alberta and as far away as Hong Kong. The centerpiece was an installation (“Confusement”) created by developmentally disabled artist Scott Berry to explore “the
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Wayne “Graffiti Lane” acrylic on canvas 24x36 in
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Karen A “Mr. Golden Eye” plush monster - fabric 30x20x8 in
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Kathy M. Austin “Kissing Rabbits” pottery 6x6x1.5 in
Kathy M. Austin “Lu Lu the Dancing Bird” mixed media on paper 16x12 in
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Stuart B “Birder” mixed media collage 39x36 in
Stuart B “Croner” plush monster - fabric 38x49x8 in
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Dale Badger “Afterlife Scare” ink on vellum 14x18 in
Dale Badger “Jesus Drunk Driving” ink on vellum 16x12 in
Dale Badger “Mary and Jesus Haunted by Spiders” ink on vellum 16x12 in
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John Barayuga “Eagle” pencil crayon on paper 9x12 in
John Barayuga “A Real Heart” pencil crayon on paper 18x11 in
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Geoffrey Bates “Calgary KFC” ink & watercolour on paper 14x17 in
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Shawn Belanger “Floramundi” giclée canvas 15x24
Shawn Belanger “Serenity” giclée canvas 19.5x26.75 in
Shawn Belanger “Orangutan Antics” print on paper 23.5x27 in
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Remy Bernier “Yellow Edge� mixed media (pottery, cord, venetian plaster, acrylic on birch panel) 24x36 in
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Aeliot Blackwell “Rose Bushes” mixed media 9x12 in
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Stephen Blair “Broken Heart” mosaic 8x12 in
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Avik Bose “Peacock” watercolour on paper 17x21.5 in
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Jana Brodkin “Jessica’s Personalities” oil on canvas 28x22 in
Jana Brodkin “Jessica’s Persona” oil on canvas 28x22 in
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Susan Brosz “San Jose Sharks� fibre (yarn embroidery on gridded canvas) 8.5x11 in
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Jodi C “Bushes 1� pinhole photograph printed on 10x10 in paper
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Derryl Caldwell “Fish” mixed media (pottery, acrylic on wood panel) 12x12 in
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Matthew Carberry “Clock Tower” acrylic on canvas 30x36 in
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Matthew Carberry “Self Portrait” digital print 16x12 in
Amanda Carlson “Colourful Owl” mixed media on paper 16x12 in
Amanda Carlson “Create Wonderful in the World” acrylic on canvas 14x18 in
Amanda Carlson “Sunshine Flower” fused glass 12x12x1 in
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YUNG Cheuk-kwok “Fishes” mixed media on paper 8.25x12 in
YUNG Cheuk-kwok “Soft Drinks” mixed media on paper 8.75x15 in
YUNG Cheuk-kwok “Ducks” mixed media on paper 8.25x12 in
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David Christie “New York Islanders” fibre (yarn embroidery on gridded canvas) 15x15 in
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Bryan Cocks “Colours” acrylic on canvas 16x20 in
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Teddi Driediger “Quiet Earth - Quiet Blue” oil on canvas 12x16 in
Teddi Driediger “Which Way Is Up” oil on canvas 16x20 in
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Cailan Duff “Brontosaurus” ceramic 8x15x6 in
Cailan Duff “Triceratops” ceramic 6x10x4 in
Cailan Duff “Stegasaurus” ceramic 6x12x5 in
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Crystal Dundas “Bold Roses” acrylic on canvas 31.5x23.5 in
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Karen Dunwoody “Colour Beads” polymer clay 1x1x8 in
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Amber-Lynn Flexhaug “Psychedelic Wonders” photograph 10x10 in
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Carla Freitag “Colours” ink on paper 15x18 in
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Dakota Gauthier “Road to Clouds” watercolour 6x9 in
Dakota Gauthier “Sun Melt” watercolour 11x8 in
Dakota Gauthier “The Dream” watercolour 6x9 in
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Bernadette Gazzard “Skyblaze” watercolour 6x9 in
Bernadette Gazzard “Genie on Fire” watercolour 9x6 in
Bernadette Gazzard “Tiny House” acrylic 12x12 in
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Megan Gilmore “Funky Red� fibre (weaving, fabric, embellishment) 9.5x22 in
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Susan Guild “Glass Plate” fused glass 8x12 in
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Savann H “Trieye� plush monster - fabric 19x22x8 in
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Andrew Harding “Abstract City� fibre pillow (yarn ambroidery on gridded canvas, fabric) 20x20x5 in
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Amber Harriman “Bug’s Life” pottery, fibre & venetian plaster on birch panel 12x24 in
Amber Harriman “Fences” pottery, fibre & venetian plaster on birch panel 24x30 in
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Michelle Harris “Spring Bugs� ink & watercolour on paper 11x13 in
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Wendy Hladik “Beautiful” ink & watercolour on paper 12x18 in
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Anthony Hodgetts “Tropical Flowers” needle felting 11x14 in
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Kylan Hunter “The Violin” mixed media 20x10x1.75 in
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Heather Jackson “Mother and Child� fibre (embroidery on gridded canvas) 10.5x8 in
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CHENG Ka-yan “George Lam, a Hong Kong Singer” mixed media on paper 20x20 in
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CHENG Ka-yee “Coca Cola” acrylic on paper 12x8.25 in
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CHUNG Kai-pong “My Love” tissue paper 3.5x8.25x4.5 in
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Urselia Kaye “Fog Mountain” acrylic on canvas 16x20 in
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Aleena Kleiner “You know when you draw a blank” acrylic 12x12 in
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Rhonda Kottusch “Art� ink & watercolour on paper 12x9 in
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Jessica Kowalski “Looking Upon a Sunset” acrylic on canvas 24x36 in
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Lenny Lane “December” linoprint 4.25x6.5 in
Lenny Lane “September” linoprint 4.25x6.5 in
Lenny Lane “January II” linoprint 4.25x6.5 in
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Elaine Lee “Growth and Reflection” acrylic on canvas 14x11 in
Elaine Lee “Solitude” acrylic on canvas 14x11 in
Elaine Lee “Painting the Colours of Life” acrylic on canvas 14x11 in
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Vincent Lee “Tiger” acrylic on plexiglass 12x17.5 in
Vincent Lee “To the North” acrylic on plexiglass 11x36.5 in
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Nicholas Lemke “Pac Man� ink & watercolour on paper 15x11 in
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Skye MacKenzie “Never Ending Painting� watercolour and mixed media on paper 10.5x7.5 in
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Benjamin L. Maeseele “Azure Dragon Knight” pen and coloured pencils on paper 11x8.5 in
Benjamin L. Maeseele “Flame Mech Peryton” pen and coloured pencils on paper 11x8.5 in
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Tom Martens “A Love Story” fluid acrylic on paper 24x18 in
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Todd Maxwell “BC Lions Champions” fibre (yarn embroidery on gridded canvas) 14x16 in
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Brad McCaull “Paradise� fabric paint on cotton 13x18x7 in
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Desiree McCook “Colours” pastel on paper 22x28 in
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LEUNG Mei-chun “Crying Owl” watercolour on paper 11x15 in
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Sandy Milne “Dove” watercolour 8x10 in
Sandy Milne “Madonna & Child” pencil 10x8 in
Sandy Milne “Jumping Horses” chalk pastels 20x16 in
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CHUI Mo-yim “Seagull” watercolour on paper 11x15 in
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Dennis Moynihan “Teepee by the River” mixed media 12x24x17.5 in
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CHAN Muk-ching “Scenery of the Mountains and Colours of the Water” watercolour on paper 16.5x12 in
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M. Nelson “Sakura Time” acrylic on paper 36x30x2.5 in
M. Nelson “A Butterfly and a Flower” mixed media 10x7x2 in
M. Nelson “Shallow Water” mixed media 18x24 in
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An Nguyen “Flowers in the Rain” acrylic on canvas 16x19.5 in
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Alexander Oswell “Northern Lights” acrylic 8x10 in
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Robert Panich “All Kinds of Trees� ink & watercolour on paper 12x18 in
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Andre Paradis “The Four Laughing Horses� fabric paint on cotton n/a
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Alison Pendrel “Quilt for Pink Bear” fibre (quilt) 11x14 in
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Paul Piotto “Deep Sea Party” acrylic on canvas 16x20 in
Paul Piotto “Jellyfish” acrylic on canvas 18x18 in
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John Polianec “Gorilla” ceramic 4.5x3.5x6.5 in
John Polianec “Bear” ceramic 11x4x6 in
John Polianec “Snowy Owl” ceramic 8x8x8 in
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Prospect Collaboration: Nadia A, Ricky A, Julius B, Michelle B, Stephanie B, Greg E, Chrissy G, Mackenzie J, Mohamad K, Daniel M, Kathy O, Jaclyn P, David R, Maggie S “Carton Crescent� recycled material, acrylic paint 47x20in & 44x20 in
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Nicky R “Molly” plush monster - fabric 29x15x8 in
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R. R. “Creation in the Breeze of the Wilderness” mixed media (pottery, yarn circle weave) 9x9x5 in
R. R. “Life is in the Heart of the Mountain” mixed media (pottery, yarn circle weave) 9x9x5 in
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Jody Roll “Eye of Possibilities” mixed media 18x24 in
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Carol Rousch “Sunrise” acrylic on canvas 16x20 in
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Colin S “Blue Sky” plush monster - fabric 23x20x8 in
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Holly Sabourin “Marvin” ceramic 12x4x5 in
Holly Sabourin “Tara” ceramic 12x4x5 in
Holly Sabourin “Jessie” ceramic 12x4x5 in
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Adeel Sadiq “Passion Beautiful” ink & watercolour on paper 13x17 in
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Chris Steppler “Mountain Lake” acrylic on canvas 12x18 in
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Desiree Stewart “A Tragic Death: Sea Horse” ceramic 4x9x8 in
Desiree Stewart “A Tragic Death: Sperm Whale” ceramic 12x8x8 in
Desiree Stewart “A Tragic Death: Sea Snake” ceramic 5.5x7x8 in
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Judy Tarves “The Great Escape” fibre pillow (yarn embroidery on gridded canvas, fabric) 20x20x4 in
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Lorraine Taylor “I was the Princess but I’m the Queen Now!” fibre (yarn embroidery on gridded canvas) 13x17 in
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Rachel M. Thomas “Curiosity” mixed media 15x7x8 in
Rachel M. Thomas “What they tell me it looks like” mixed media 12x12x12 in
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Paula Timm “Old Man” mixed media collage 36x36 in
Paula Timm “I wonder, Woman” mixed media collage 20x16 in
Paula Timm “Rain Sky” mixed media collage 12x48 in
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CHAN Sze-man Vicky “Rabbit” acrylic on canvas 20x24 in
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Linda Vincent “Breastfeeding” ink on paper 15x22 in
Linda Vincent “Gorilla” ink on paper 22x15 in
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Linda Vincent “Van Gogh” ink on paper 22x15 in
MAK Wai-hung “Self Portrait” acrylic on paper 24x16.5 in
MAK Wai-hung “Let’s Do Exercise!” acrylic on paper 24x16.5 in
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KEUNG Wai-ka “Harbour” watercolour on paper 11.5x15 in
KEUNG Wai-kai “Our Villages” watercolour on paper 11.5x15 in
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John Wilson “Mountains and Clouds” linocut on paper 12x12 in
John Wilson “House” linocut on paper 12x8 in
John Wilson “Flower Garden” linocut on paper 9x12 in
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MAN Yuen-chun “Intertwined Stars” ceramic 10x8x6.75 in
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Aki Yuge “Ballet” ink & watercolour on paper 15x11 in
Aki Yuge “Tango” ink & watercolour on paper 17x14 in
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Studio C is a unique integrated Art Centre – a venue where artists with and without disabilities achieve collaboration, inspiration and immersion within Calgary’s art community. www.studiocprospect.ca
In-Definite Arts is a non-profit art studio supporting artists with developmental disabilities to create and exhibit art. Established in 1975, In-Definite Arts has over 40 years of experience helping artists with barriers to connect meaningfully with the wider art world. www.indefinitearts.com
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The SPARK Disability Art Festival is co-produced annually by the In-Definite Arts Society and Studio C. This year’s Festival was funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, with support from Alberta Government, Human Services, Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) Program, Calgary Arts Development, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and Prospect Human Services. SPARK was pleased this year to additionally partner with the Alberta College of Art & Design, Arts Commons, Calgary IDPD and Loft 112 for exhibition space. Finally, a special thank you to each of the participating artists and organizations that made SPARK possible.
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