10 minute read
Highlights 2022
HIGHLIGHTS 2022
Volunteers:
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One of our tenets as advocates for the disability community is creating opportunities for HEARTists to meet new people in safe and meaningful ways Volunteering is a time to relate to each other as fellows, and to mutually learn from others in a personal way, gaining experiences from each other.
We were proud to welcome volunteers from the College of Charleston across several different disciplines With the Department of Theatre and Dance, we rehearsed and refined our performances for Some Kind of Funny. With the students of the Department of Teacher Education Special Education majors, we joined in many varied activities throughout the year. With both groups, those students were able to learn from our crew of artists and gain experience with individuals with disabilities before going on to become teachers in the future.
Basking in that Fall feeling, we had our 2nd annual Great Pumpkin carving contest with the folks at Harbinger Cafe And we had a field day playing kickball with some members of CofC's chapter of Delta Tau Delta
Social Events
Getting out and having fun together as friends can help grease the wheels of collaboration and creativity. We celebrated our friendship with Pal-entine's Day by dining out at Rutledge Cab Co followed by desserts and a movie at the Studio. We took to the ice, taking in a Stingrays Hockey game together. And enjoyed Troy Kotsur's Oscar winning performance in CODA during a night out at the movies.
Some Kind of Funny:
This. Was. BIG! HEART took the chance to get back on the stage and turned it into an entertainment extravaganza. Some Kind of Funny wasn't just a musical. It was a comedy, it had heart, it highlighted the many different talents of our HEARTists, and welcomed an unprecedented number of guest stars We even had tap dancers taking over the stage for the big showstopper numbers.
For the first time, HEART's original musical production was live streamed and could be enjoyed from anywhere. This allowed us to share the show, not only with friends and fans across the country, but made the performance accessible for other members of the disability community and like-missioned organizations around the globe! Our performance was viewed from both coasts of the U.S., and internationally in Canada and Australia.
Some Kind of Funny now lives on as a professionally edited commemorative DVD and is still available to any fans of a good time who might wish to take the Funny home with them
We will always look back fondly on Some Kind of Funny as our triumphant return to the theatre. And, who knows? Maybe it will find a life outside of HEART amongst other disabled thespians in the world!
HEART Family Vacation:
In another instance of stepping outside our box, HEART opted to diverge from its usual mountain air, camping style Family Vacation. This year, HEART went more resort styled. Walt Disney World Resort, to be exact. While we might have a bone to pick with The Mouse's inaccessible process for getting accessibility passes, we can't complain about all of the fun and excitement we had in the park Minus a sudden rainstorm on the drive down, the weather was perfect The parks were populated, but not overcrowded Perfection! We had a blast having the run of the park and riding as many thrill rides as our hearts desired. We closed the place down each night!
Exhausting? Of course. Exhilarating? You betcha!
Arts Festivals
Spring saw HEART getting back out into the festival scene
North Charleston Arts Fest - Arty Block Party
HEART was a vendor at the Arty Block Party in North Chuck's trendy Park Circle area Once again, the day proved very windy We had to get volunteers to run to our rescue, procuring tent weights for us and our new friends - our neighboring artists But we had a fantastic evening meeting new artists, and sharing the work of the HEART Studio There was live music, delicious food, friendly visitors, and four-legged friends to love on. A recipe for a perfect festival outing.
In 2023, HEARTists will be submitting their artwork to the judged competition & exhibition.
ArtFields
Our new favorite tradition - visiting Lake City, SC when art takes over the town. With galleries, live art exhibitions, viewer voting, and street murals, there is a ton to see and do in what's usually a sleepy main street. Plus, there's always trains rolling by on the town's very active rail line, so you know HEART loves that!
In December 2022, two HEARTists - Cassie Williamson and Eliza Kerrison - created their own art submissions in hopes of selection for the 2023 festival. HEART's pieces were not selected for exhibition this time, but we continue to submit and spread the word of the incredible creativity in the HEART Studio.
Third Thursdays in Summerville:
HEART was pleased to be invited to vend at the artsthemed Third Thursday event in Summerville. It was a typically warm June evening. HEART nestled into the parking lot of the Public Works Art Center amongst fellow artists and artisans. Organized by Ms. Wheelchair SC herself, Ashley Lawrence. The event closed down the heart of Summerville's downtown district to welcome thousands of pedestrian visitors. What a great way to meet new friends in Sweet Tea Town.
Disability Pride:
The celebration expanded in 2022, taking over the Porter Room at Holy City Brewing Co. in North Charleston. Each year, the Pride grows to bring in new folks and new cities across the Lowcountry. It's pleasing to report that both Charleston and North Charleston have officially proclaimed July as Disability Pride Month. The community has used this month to honor its own for decades. And, it's good to finally see our fellow locals begin to recognize its importance, too. There was an incredible turnout to the Friday evening party. It was a wonderful time celebrating the Disability Community, its unique cultures, and the inherent worth of every person.
The event was kicked off with keynote speeches by Ms. Wheelchair South Carolina USA, Ashley Lawrence, and the artist and advocate Katie Thompson. Entertainment included dance performances from Holy City Hotfoot and Team Swagger, as well as music by HEART Inclusive Arts Community and the Pluff Mud String Band. Inside the event space, over 25 artisans, vendors, and organizations showed off what they do and offered a variety of goods and art to go home with you.
Many people were in public again for the first time since the pandemic began in order to celebrate the occasion. Folks new to the community, and those who have been lifelong members, met and mingled. It was incredible to experience!
Creative Misfits:
A rockin' rollick through the decades. Creative Misfits LIVE! was iconic. HEARTists dressed up in homage of some of their favorite rock icons to perform a concert set full of the best and most influential rock tunes the latter half of last century had to offer. Once again, we took over the deck at The Charleston Pour House - a pretty iconic rock venue in its own right.
Pairing with the concert was the annual art auction and gallery, Creative Misfits. 40+ pieces of artwork from over 30 uniquely gifted artists were auctioned off to the highest bidder. Proceeds, as always, benefit the ongoing arts programming of HEART Inclusive Arts Community.
SCAAIDD:
It had been several years since we performed in the annual SCAAIDD conference in Myrtle Beach. We were honored and excited to be invited back to perform a few songs from our summer production, Some Kind of Funny. It's important to us that we get out in the community and perform for audiences that we wouldn't typically reach and traveling definitely grows our footprint
Summer Fun:
Bathing suits were essential all summer! To kick off the season, HEART took a dip in the pool at Collins Park thanks to the North Charleston Recreation Department It was a unique outdoor pool tucked away in a quiet, hidden park. So, we mostly had the spot to ourselves. And, can you even call yourself Charlestonians if you don't kick up some sand all summer? We hit up Folly Beach to cheer on the surfers participating in Surfers Healing. They are a nonprofit that pairs surfers with kids and young adults with autism, together enjoying the unique experience of surfing It was astounding to see the love and support for the huge number of surfers taking to the waves that day. We will definitely be adding this experience to our annual outings. Capping off the beach days was a relaxing post-vacation vacation day at the Citadel beach house on Isle of Palms. It was a beautiful and perfectly fitting last hurrah to the warm summer sun.
College of Charleston:
CofC has been a great support to HEART in many ways. We received help from dedicated theatre students throughout their semester during rehearsals We even hired one to be a lead in our production! We enjoyed theatre games at the park planned by freshman theatre students. The college provided access to one of the dance studios whenever we needed it for rehearsal. Folks at the Halsey Institute planned a different activity to accompany each exhibition tour we took Needless to say, the HEARTists have developed a strong affinity for anyone that comes from CofC.
Trailblazing:
We explored all over the Lowcountry this year: touring several art galleries, the Natural History Museum, and Beyond Distilling We walked in the St Patrick's Day Parade and had a pizza party at Riverfront Park. Posters for our productions were hung near and far as we created relationships with our local businesses.
Spoleto:
Our continuing relationship with the internationally renowned Spoleto Festival USA proved once again to be a major artistic highlight in our year. Traveling to Charleston all the way from Cuba, the dancers of the Malpaso dance company treated us all to a private dance workshop that had us sweating! Rae and Sisi also got to enjoy their final performance on the stage at the Sottile theater So much fun So much energy burned!
