On Saturday night, I had the pleasure of attending Full Circle: Voice and Vision 2009. Full Circle is a yearly event where the clients who take part in the Arts Access Program at Matheny Medical and Education Center display their talent for a packed house. Upon entry into this beautiful facility on Saturday,  many of the works created by clients all over the walls. As I turned the corner to enter the performance space I was greeted by masterpiece after masterpiece, some of which had already been marked as sold to event attendee. Much of the artwork is also on display on the Arts Access Program Website (www.artsaccessprogram.org).

The performance segment of the event began as Lyn Sanders, director of the Arts Access Program, took the stage to make her welcoming remarks. I settled in standing in the back. The feeling in the theater was one of excitement and anticipation. The performing arts portion of the event lasted an hour and was made up of a mix of dance, dramatic scenes, monologues and the occasional documentary style interview. I must admit that the very first piece, a documentary piece by Chris Saglimbene set the mood for the performance perfectly. In the piece he addresses what it is to be an artist with a disability, and very eloquently expresses something we’ve all felt. Chris explains, “When I [make art] it feels like a ton of rocks have been lifted off my shoulders.”

While the pieces ranged in tone and medium from a heartfelt and expressive dance to a clever monologue addressed to Father Christmas from his not so jolly wife Mrs. Claus, they all had a few things in common–not just the unique voices of the clients who created them, but their faces as well. These choreographers, directors and writers fearlessly took the stage and took part in their pieces, which really allowed the audience to know all the work, and passion that went in to creating them. They addressed a range of issues from the tackling the daily challenges of being disabled to simple stories about love and friendship and loss. At the end of the performance the clients and performers took their well-deserved curtain call.

After the performance there was a dessert reception during which I got the opportunity to talk with a number of people responsible for the night’s festivities. Between handshakes and numerous congratulations, a number of the Arts Access clients explained that while they were nervous, they were excited about the performance and very proud of the work that they had done.

They have every reason to be. I feel as though I got a chance to be part of something really special and I extend many thanks to the people at Metheny and Arts Access for giving me the opportunity to be a part of it.