Pressreleases published in newspapers and on Dungarvan Cinema Facebook page, Dungarvan Tourism and Dungarvan Shopping Centre (where the film was made) facebook pages... and probably in other places too. Thank you all for the support!
By Corina Duyn
Just about a year ago a set of nine puppets made
their first public appearance during a filming session at the Dungarvan
Shopping Centre.
They were made by members of the Irish Wheelchair Association
(IWA) Resource Centre, during an eight month project led by local artist and
writer Corina Duyn.
Corina, also a member of the IWA, was asked in 2014
if she could facilitate puppet project. This Life Outside the Box project received funding from Create – Artist
in the Community Scheme, part of the Arts Council of Ireland. The IWA staff provided
practical support every step of the way.
The making of the puppets and props were a weekly
adventure into learning new skills, building friendships, sharing lots of
laughter, but also brought a huge sense of empowerment. Words like “I found me
again”, and “I did not know I could do this”, were heard during the session.
Life
Outside the Box was the chosen title to represent this
diverse group of people and the merits of the project. “Although we all live
with illness/disability, we still very much like to be part of society. We
symbolized this by having our puppets step out of Society’s Disability Box.”
Alan O’Callaghan from The
Bootleg Studios filmed this adventure at the Dungarvan
Shopping Centre in January 2016.
To the participants absolute delight this
very short film will be screened on the 15th
March 2017 at the international
disability film festival Picture This in Calgary, Canada.
To celebrate this achievement, local public
venues have been hugely supportive to host screenings of the film between 10th
and 17th March:
•
Dungarvan SGC Cinema. Before every movie from
Friday 10th until Thursday 16th March.
•
Waterford Centre for Independent Living, Cheshire - John's Hill, Wednesday 15th
March at 12.15, and 12.30.
•
Dungarvan Shopping Centre on screens in the main
lobby from Monday 13th until Friday 17th March.
•
Some of the puppet makers will be at the Shopping Centre on Monday and
Thursday. Contact Caroline Lacey for details.
•
Easons Dungarvan have kindly agreed to sell the
project Book/DVD, and notebooks. All proceeds go the IWA Art group.
•
Digital screening on the Puppet’s Blog http://lifeoutsidethebox-puppetproject.blogspot.ie from the 15th March.
During the past year, the puppets have travelled for
exhibitions to Dungarvan and Waterford Library and Tramore Coastguard Arts
Centre. Individually they have joined their makers on holidays and day trips to
Villierstown, Tramore, Youghal, Kenmare and even Spain.
If you would like to invite the puppets
and their makers to come and talk about life with disability at your school or
group, please contact Caroline Lacey at IWA caroline.lacey@iwa.ie 087-2556835.
Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) is a national organization, which provides a range of services
to people with disabilities and other mobility impairments in their own homes
and communities.
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| Avondhu Newspaper 9-03-2017 |
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| Dungarvan Observer 10-03-2017 |
