An exhibit organized by VSA Vermont and called “Engage” was the subject of a Seven Days article I wrote more than a year ago — in February 2012. Since then the show, which features works in multiple media by artists with disabilities, has been displayed at venues around the state.
“Engage” is currently at the Bennington Museum, through May 7, and accompanying this iteration is a video created by John Killacky, executive director of the Flynn Center for Performing Arts in Burlington.
“Dreaming Awake,” made in 2003, juxtaposes a narrator in a wheelchair with close-up shots of dancers (attention, parents: the dancers are nude). Just six minutes long, this dreamy, sensual and poignant work was created after Killacky’s experience with a surgical mishap that left him paralyzed — until he worked his way (mostly) out of it.
I wrote about that, too, in an article about Killacky shortly after he arrived for his new job at the Flynn in the summer of 2010.
Also on view at the Bennington Museum are “Crip Shots: Six Performative Portraits,” a film by Killacky and his spouse, Larry Connolly; and Jay Craven‘s documentary about the late Vermont artist Gayleen Aiken, called simply “Gayleen.” Admission to the films is $8 for members, $10 nonmembers.
All three films will be shown on Thursday, April 25, at 7 p.m. You can watch “Dreaming Awake” here.
Image above (by Laurie Toby Edison) and video courtesy of John Killacky.
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