Thousand Hand Guan Yin

Anonymous excerpt from an email we received: "Considering the tight coordination required, the accomplishments of these dancers is nothing short of amazing -- even if they were not all deaf. Relying only on signals from trainers at the four corners of the stage, these extraordinary dancers deliver a visual spectacle that is at once intricate and stirring. Its first major international debut was in Athens last year at the closing ceremonies for the 2004 Paralympics. But it had long been in the repertoire of the Chinese Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe and had traveled to more than 40 countries. Its lead dancer is 29 year old Tai Lihua, who has a BA from the Hubei Fine Arts Institute. The video was recorded in Beijing during the Spring Festival celebrations this year. It takes a while to load. Be patient; it's worth it." Click on the arrow inside the image above to watch the video.

National Center for Learning Disabilities

NCLD is looking for works of art, photography, poetry, videos, essays, short stories, Web sites, blogs, etc. that express what life is like for individuals with learning disabilities. From the works submitted, 30 entries will be selected to be exhibited on our Web site and at our benefit dinner this April. In addition, they are offering grand prizes of $500 for outstanding works from each of the following age groups:
* Children: Ages 4-13
* Teens: Ages 14-17
* Adults: Ages 18 and older

To enter, please send NCLD your submission, a photo of you or your child, a short paragraph (three to five sentences) about you and/or your child’s experience with learning disabilites, and a completed release form. Click here for more information about entering NCLD's "30 Voices of LD."Good luck, and remember, entries must be postmarked by March 9, 2007!

Theatre IV: Stage Explorers Summer Camp

Our Stage Explorers Summer Camp information - including dates and cost - will be posted online on Friday, February 16, 2007. Enrollment forms will also be available online from tomorrow. If you are interested in the camp, please visit our website Friday for the forms and return them as soon as possible. The camp fills up very quickly.

Camp information and forms will be available from the 16th at
http://www.theatreivrichmond.org/stage_exp.html

Questions? Call Janine Serresseque at 804-783-1688 ext. 13
or email j.serresseque@theatreivrichmond.org

Positive Vibe Cafe's Guest Chef Series continues Sunday, March 4.

The Vibe welcomes Chef Jannequin Bennett of The Jefferson Hotel for a special evening to benefit the GLMD Foundation & the cafe's training program for people with disabilities.

Seatings begin at 6pm. Call 560.9622 for reservations.

Choose from Chef Bennett's (author of Very Vegetarian) special menu or one of your Positive Vibe favorites!

Call for Art- Nat'l Exhibits By Blind Artists, Inc.

NATIONAL EXHIBITS BY BLIND ARTISTS, INC.

919 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

(215) 925-3213 · (800) 222-1754

CALL FOR ARTISTS

"ART BEYOND SIGHT" – 2007-2008

Sponsored by NEBA, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Wayne Art Center.

OPENING WAYNE ART CENTER

Wayne, PA

Fall 2007

*Additional venues are scheduled throughout 2008*

NEBA Selections and Awards Selection Chair:

Jan Baltzell, Artist, Professor at the Pa. Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia

PRIZES: Best in 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional

EXHIBIT ELIGIBILITY:

1. All participating legally blind artists must be able to verify the nature of their vision loss.

2. All participating legally blind artists must be eighteen years or older.

3. All artwork must have been completed since the vision loss.

4. Artwork must not have been previously exhibited by NEBA.

5. Artists may submit slides (preferred); 8" x 10" photographs or electronic files on CD-ROM for three pieces of artwork.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MARCH 30, 2007

Send to:

National Exhibits by Blind Artists, Inc. (NEBA)

P. O. Box 1194

Philadelphia, PA 19105

Notification of the results of the review will be on or around May 1, 2007.

SLIDES:

1. Slides should be 2" x 2" color transparencies.

2. a) Send 1 slide per entry for each two-dimensional work.

b) Send 2 slides for each three-dimensional work.

3. Each slide must be marked with the artist's name on the front, title of work and medium. Place a dot in the upper right hand corner on front of slide.

4. Slides must be of actual work available for exhibit.

5. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return of the slides. Slides of work NOT SELECTED for the show will be returned after judging.

6. Enclosed form must be completed and returned with slides.

ACCEPTED WORKS:

All artwork accepted for the exhibit must arrive (shipped or delivered) not later than May 24, 2007. It must be insured by the artist and arrive ready for display.

Ship to:

Postal delivery: NEBA, P.O. Box 1194, Philadelphia, PA 19105.

Courier or hand delivery: NEBA, 919 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

PLEASE NOTE: NEBA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT WORKS NOT PROPERLY PREPARED FOR EXHIBIT. WORKS HAVE BEEN REJECTED IN THE PAST AS UNSUITABLE FOR SHOWING BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT CONSTRUCTED PROPERLY OR READY FOR DISPLAY.

1. Plexiglas is preferred in place of glass.

2. Sculpture must be suitably mounted; bases must be securely attached.

3. Textiles or other fiber work must have a rod for hanging.

4. Paintings or drawings must be framed and wired for hanging.

5. All work should be professionally packed for shipping (or packed in a comparable manner). Your container will be used for return shipping.

6. All work must be insured for shipping. NEBA provides insurance for return delivery.

7. For any work selected for the show, NEBA will request a short biography of the artist and a description of the work. This may be a taped message on cassette.

8. A contract will be sent upon notification of acceptance by the jury.

9. All works will be returned to the artist or released to purchaser at the close of the contract period for this exhibit.

10. NEBA receives a 20% commission on all sales of artwork.

Submission deadline: March 30, 2007

Acceptance notification date: May 1, 2007

Artwork delivery date: May 24, 2007

Theatre IV: Children's Auditions for The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz

Adapted by John Kane from the book by L. Frank Baum
With music and lyrics from the MGM motion picture score by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg
Directed by Jan Guarino
Choreography by K Strong
Musical Direction by Sandy Dacus

Auditions are by appointment only and will be held at Theatre IV's Empire Theatre on Sunday February 18th from 1:00-5:00 pm. Please call (804) 344-8052 ext. 4 for an appointment. Children's auditions are very popular, and it is suggested that you make your appointment as soon as possible.

Rehearsals will begin on or around March 19, 2007
Performance dates: April 27 - May 20, 2007

Seeking to cast 20 children (boys and girls) to play munchkins. All children auditioning must be under 5'3" tall.

Those auditioning should be prepared to sing and dance. A short song and a short dance routine will be taught at the auditions.

All performers will be paid.

Please call 344-8052 x4 to schedule and appointment or for additional information.

Richmond Thinks It Wins but People with Disabilities Lose

From a member of C-FAIR (Citizens for Fair Access in Richmond)

Alright Comrades, It looks like we've got a larger challenge before us than I even imagined. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the city will not be held responsible for allocating the funds that will be required to bring our schools into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

How many of you saw this article in the Times Dispatch last week?
Can you believe the title? "Richmond wins on school accessibility"

Who wins exactly?

Please tell me that this moral ambiguity is not shared by the majority of Richmonders! Surely, we don't really think it's acceptable that the city does not bear responsibility for ensuring that people with disabilities can get into and around school buildings. By the way, historically, the city has been the sole provider for Richmond City Schools' capital improvements budget.

This is not just a struggle for those of us with children in Richmond's schools to deal with. There are many exciting programs going on in our 60 public school buildings that are open to the general public after the school day, yet only four of those 60 buildings are fully accessible. Deliberate mal-intent or not, the message is clear: People with disabilities are not welcome to participate. It's just too much trouble.

C-FAIR (Citizens for Fair Access in Richmond), the group of concerned Richmonders that brought this lawsuit, is getting together on Thursday, February 22nd at Childrens Hospital from 6-9pm. Please join us to share your thoughts or just demonstrate your support. And come hungry but with a belly full of angst!

Read the article to learn more or call 804-355-0543 for more information