Catch Up With My Dear Friends in Deaf Festival

We enjoyed DeafFestival 2018 in Parramatta. I did "catch up with" good friends, Riona, Sue and Kristina, my superheros at Accessible Arts NSW, Contemporary Art Museum and peak bodies. We say "Good" in Auslan and smile. *Auslan is an Australian sign language. Face painting was fundraising for Deaf Society at the festival. Children and volunteers were enjoying communication in Auslan. Lovely. Many people were coming and having a cheerful chat in Auslan. Visitors looked so happy. 

I'd introduce my great friends : Riona Tindal, Sue Jo Wright and Kristina Tito. 

Riona Tindal has overcome her difficulty and gained a PhD. She's become the expert of Australian frogs and a visual artist. Her guts and a story encourages me. She could not hear frogs, but her team assisted her and examined collected frogs' data. So, a bonus, her team members, all became PhD candidates! Furthermore, she precisely recorded each frog by drawing and watercolour painting so that they would bear a scientific argument. Her paintings and drawings are very beautiful. Breathtaking. Imagine, even people without disability cry in the painstaking process of PhD research and a thesis. It demands a huge energy. Riona challenged herself, prejudice and has overcome them all. What a woman! Sadami, your leg is not a problem at all!   

Museum of Contemporary Art stall

Sue Jo Wright has already come up in my blog post on Arts Activated Conference 2016 held by Accessible Arts NSW. She was born with no sound, but she's a promising photographer and today, an Auslan interpreter at Museum of Contemporary Arts Australia. 

Kristina Tito advocates the disadvantaged in society. She's been working for access, equality and social justice at peak bodies. She's one of my strong supporters. I have nothing, but good friends. I'm very proud of being their friends. 

Accessible Arts NSW stall

Nice! The friends' smile always gives me energy to move forward. I'm enjoying the projects. You, too, have a productive week and enjoy life! Happy Painting, Friends. 

Catch Up With My Dear Friends in Deaf Festival

Arts Activated Conference 2016 by Accessible Arts NSW

The conference is wonderful to update information, catch up others and expand network. Accessible Arts NSW staff advocates artists with disabilities and any involved people such as peak bodies and supporters. There, as if a world value became "upside down and inside out," because usually discriminated people were the centre of the world! I felt so good. No one looked at my leg or sometimes wibble wobble walking. All the staff and participants, we smiled each other and nicely enjoyed chats. I often shared time with deaf people. I really did not mind deaf. My drawing amused deaf artists : Sue Jo Wright and Luke King. 

New friends : Sue (*above) is a photographer and a $6,000 grants recipient last year. Luke King is lovely and one of the presenters in a workshop! He is a visual artist (*so good at biro drawing!) and Auslan curator at National Gallery of Victoria. This is a part of his work. 

Andy Warhol , Ai Weiwet Access Tours in Aulan @ National Gallery of Victoria. Guided tour in Auslan only, no voice translation provided. Tour leader Luke King, artist. Cost Free, Exhibition admission fees apply. Meet Exhibition entrance.  Luke is a visual artist with a BA of Fine Arts (Hons).  Luke runs a workshop to lecture and lead art tours for deaf people and Auslan students.

Sue and Luke were very friendly. I could not understand Auslan at all. I was a deaf among them and Auslan interpreters. I only "twice" used papers and talked with Sue. Our healthy and rich quietness made me comfortable. All of us loved photos and drawings. We looked at our works, saying, "Ooohhhh!!" "Waaahhhh!!" laughed, giggled, smiled and enough! Art is universal language!!
Sue introduced me to a Disability Discrimination Commissioner from Human Rights Commission (*I've loved that organisation for ages!) An Auslan Interpreter from Melbourne asked to pass on hello to my mentor Ann James. (*I'm always so proud of my mentors, Books Illustrated and Helen Chamberlin to anyone! They become a good conversation opening with others.) The interpreter remembered Books Illustrated and felt like visiting there. Btw, sometimes, people mistook me for a deaf at the conference. 

In the key speakers, Pádraig Naughton from Arts & Disability Ireland impressed me most. His life story and very caring advice was great. 

• Expertise.  
• Connect a local level, first, and grow.  
• Disability led practice, but art work/activities need to involve whole/any people.  
• Don't do it alone. Make friends as many as possible. Collaborate. 

Three key speakers : Left to Right, Veronica Pardo (Arts Access Victoria), Emma Bennison (Accessible Arts Australia),  Pádraig Naughton ( Arts & Disability Ireland).  I had a chat with each person later. Emma's good memory amazed me. She said, "You're a drawer! You sketched me!" (*Emma remembered my voice and name!) I met her at Accessible Arts Australia conference 2012. 
http://sadamisgraffiti.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/dont-play-me-pay-me.html
In addition, I became a finalist twice at their national arts competitions.    

However, the Arts Activated Conference did not cover the need of non English speakers. Sadly, only a few non English speakers participated it. When I addressed my concern about the lack of services for non English speakers, Emma agreed me and asked me, "Keep in touch." I told her, "I'm happy to offer a help in my capacity." Settlement Services International asked me lots of questions on how to advocate clients. He said, "Language barrier is another disability." In my mind, "No, non English speakers are not disabled. A social system has dysfunction," I thought though, listening to his thoughts. I hope that equal access of arts for anyone will come true. Mulitlingualism must be achieved for equal access. 

Btw, do ye realise? In Auslan, a right hand is used more often than a left hand, I've found. An interpreter agreed me. We chatted over sign language. Each country has a different sign language. If we can have a universal sign language, it would be lovely. 

Facebook helps to expand my network and enhances it. Very interesting and fun to connect others and get feedback and warm cheers from FB friends. You'll find deaf people, Auslan interpreters and Pj Lynch, too on my facebook. https://www.facebook.com/sadami.konchi 

Yey, my hero Pj says he is honoured to be a judge of an art competition with Padraig at Christmas. 

An effective use of a social media platform is a very good networking strategy. I met the staff from Australian Museum. Their executive and I are good friends. So, we enjoyed a chat. I hope we will nurture our friendship. 

Special thanks for all Accessible Arts NSW the staff and volunteers. You are the real heroes and made this wonderful event happen for us. 

The conference refreshed me. I could get back to the picture book project and others and made a good progress. Thank you for a strong support. I feel my life gets richer! I want you, too, make your life rich!  Cheers, ((Hugs)).  

Friends, Happy Painting!! 

Arts Activated Conference 2016 by Accessible Arts NSW