Vidya Wolton

Yesterday I travelled back from Liverpool with lots to think about following the DaDaFest. Whilst surveying the floods from the train window I thought, well just maybe I could do a self portrait from the reflection in the privacy of my little corner near the door. It seems like an apt response to Disability Arts, whatever that term might mean. I haven’t quite got a handle on this movement as I regard myself as ‘mainstream’ despite setbacks along the way.  At the festival was an exhibition of portraits by Tanya Raabe entitled WHO’S WHO? representing a number of individuals who have played their part in the movement. I have a bit of a lasting impression of this exhibition as I was able to re-visit it on several occassions. It got me thinking about portraiture and has triggered my own personal response.

I have just returned from Liverpool having attended the largest disability arts festival of it’s kind entitled DaDaFest. It was also a great opportunity to see the city particularly with its status as European City of Culture. The giant spider was launching off from below my hotel window, so that was unmissable. I have some footage, however Cloudy the hamster is in disgrace for chewing through my camera cable and alas, at the moment am unable to upload the photos. Upon my return to Lime Street Station this morning, the spider was glued to the side of a building. Most peculiar to behold but must be a feat of considerable engineering. As for the festival there were highs and lows. A high point from last night was a masterful performance on crutches by Claire Cunningham where she was able to do an aerial display all with the aid of her global collection of crutches and a winch. On the whole, the festival was not quite what I expected. The scale of the operation was relatively small and as someone presenting as able-bodied I was somewhat in the minority.