Picasso PRO and the SPiLL Collective: A Glimpse of Me 2014

October 16, 2014
Pete, Ali on hands and knees, create storyboard with markers on long roll of paper.

Pete, Ali on hands and knees, create storyboard with markers on long roll of paper. Part of the A Glimpse of Me project.

Picasso PRO and SPiLL Propagation’s rich relationship started when Paula Bath [SPiLL’s co-Director] and Rose Jacobson met and travelled to Sweden as part of the SNOW Team in 2009. Our shared values and excitement over integrated Deaf/hearing practice spawned several subsequent workshops and visioning sessions with over 25 artists, led by Josette Bushell-Mingo and other specialists. SPiLL and Picasso PRO have collaborated in many ways since SPiLL’s inception in 2010, to bring the beauty of Deaf arts and culture to a broader public. “A Glimpse of Me” was our only joint full production with a public audience, staged in Gatineau, October 16-18, 2014.

 

Facilitated by Creative Director Andrea Donaldson and Assistant Creative Director Paula Bath, “A Glimpse of Me” [originally called the “Finding Alice ” project] developed over a 2 year period and was the first of its kind in Canada, marrying two sign languages – ASL and LSQ with French, English, movement and sound to produce a truly integrated live performance experience.

 

In this multilingual theatre piece three Deaf artists  – Tiphaine Girrault, Peter Owusu-Ansah and Ali Saeedi  – come together to explore their differences and similarities, joys and pains, and life journeys as immigrant Canadians. Although they are Deaf they have many identities, having grown up in France, Ghana and Iran using combinations of French, French Sign Language, English, American Sign Language and Iranian Sign Language. No facilitative interpretation was used in this production. It relied on real-time floor drawings in chalk, performance, projected images, captions, sign and spoken words to directly communicate its stories and build a rapport with its Deaf/hearing audience members.

Image Gallery
  • Ali and Tiphaine on floor beside chalk drawn circles. Pete stands in middle behind small chalk circle; projected photo on back wall - image of playground with tire swings.
    Ali and Tiphaine on floor beside chalk drawn circles. Pete stands in middle behind small chalk circle; projected photo on back wall - image of playground with tire swings.
  • Tiphaine on knees in middle of chalk circle retracing it repeatedly in big swirls.
    Tiphaine on knees in middle of chalk circle retracing it repeatedly in big swirls.
  • Tiphaine and Ali on knees as Ali draws with chalk on floor, Pete stands watching.
    Tiphaine and Ali on knees as Ali draws with chalk on floor, Pete stands watching.
  • Ali on one knee facing audience, shrugs shoulders arms outstretched; Pete in motion in background.
    Ali on one knee facing audience, shrugs shoulders arms outstretched; Pete in motion in background.
  • Tiphaine between Pete and Ali, arm raised with fist, they face audience.
    Tiphaine between Pete and Ali, arm raised with fist, they face audience.
  • All three stand and scuff out chalk drawings with their feet.
    All three stand and scuff out chalk drawings with their feet.
  • Ali and Tiphaine on knees, Pete stands, signs to audience.
    Ali and Tiphaine on knees, Pete stands, signs to audience.
  • Ensemble movement exercise, 4 performers arms stretched to sides or hands raised, together with director Andrea Donaldson.
    Ensemble movement exercise, 4 performers arms stretched to sides or hands raised, together with director Andrea Donaldson.
  • Close-up Pete frozen in motion, one hand outstretched.
    Close-up Pete frozen in motion, one hand outstretched.
  • Close up Pete, both arms outstretched palms out.
    Close up Pete, both arms outstretched palms out.
  • Pete, Ali on hands and knees, create storyboard with markers on long roll of paper.
    Pete, Ali on hands and knees, create storyboard with markers on long roll of paper.
  • Paula crouched on chair in hoodie, head in hands, reflecting.
    Paula crouched on chair in hoodie, head in hands, reflecting.
  • Ali, seated in reflection, chin on hands.
    Ali, seated in reflection, chin on hands.