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New Exhibit: Our Special Seniors

We held a reception on May 12, 2009 from 3:30 - 5 pm at Windmills Cafe. Click here to learn more!

2009 Education Focus: Healthy Maturing & Aging

The objective of our 2009 learning plan was to help our students adjust, cope and learn how to deal with changes in life while improving literacy skills, physical skills, and problem solving skills. Our students created new friendships and widened their social network with seniors.

Why was it important? Many individuals with intellectual disabilities in South Eastern Ontario are living well into their 50s, 60s and beyond. H’art staff and instructors have noticed a dramatic increase in frequency of issues and questions related to maturing and aging. Our students are dealing with more complex relationships, physical changes, social isolation, and the loss of parents, extended family members or friends.

The Perfect Day project

H’art School assembled a group of local senior artists interested in attending sessions once a week to collaborate with adults with intellectual disabilities on an exhibit and book based on the theme of a Perfect Day. 

They were matched with an adult students with intellectual disabilities based on your preferred media, level of skill, dexterity and interests.  Then, shared stories and experiences. They learned from each other and created!

It was free for seniors and all reasonable art supplies were provided. This project is supported by the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program, The Community Foundation of Greater Kingston, Ontario Arts Council and the Harry Foster Foundation.

The Art of Aging

The Art of Aging is a community development project increased our students' involvement with local seniors and senior causes and/or issues. Our students researched issues important to seniors locally, selected three seniors groups to support, planned an educational lesson and developed a community art project to benefit local seniors. This project was supported by the City of Kingston's Healthy Communities Fund.

NEWTON FINDS A HOME: THE MUSICAL - DECEMBER 2008

Overture, curtain, lights! This is it. We'll hit the heights! And oh, what heights we'll hit! On with the show, this is it!

On Wednesday DECEMBER 17 at 10 a.m. and 7 pm, Newton Finds a Home: The Musical! hit the heights!

For months our students rehearsed their parts for an original musical of their second book, held at Duncan McArthur Hall. The performance starred our students with special needs and featured the talents of director Kathryn MacKay of the 1000 Islands Playhouse, award-winning composer David Archibald, choir director Gordon Sinclair of the Kingston Chamber Choir and choreographer Melissa Mahady Wilton of ConCorpsDance.

Huge thanks extended to the Kingston Arts Council, Josée Thériault of RBC Dominion Securities, RBC Foundation, International Civitan Foundation of Canada, Kingston & District Civitans, 1000 Islands Regional Workforce Development Board, Gordon’s Estate Services, Kingston Frameworks and the Kingston Whig Standard. Nearly 1000 people attended two performances!

Summer Program June - August 2008

It was a summer of music, drama and art at H'art School. Thanks in part to the Department of Canadian Heritage, we learned about various cultures through an introduction to music, musical instruments, and the personal histories of Kingston musicians and artists. Beginning on June 27, 2008, Multiculturalism Day, H'art School encouraged volunteers to help with our mural project.  We displayed vibrant mural images on the exterior of our new home (189 Sydenham Street). 

"I Said I" June 2008

For a year, Theatre Kingston’s Artistic Director Kim Renders gathered the voices of Kingston for an event unlike anything the city has ever seen. I SAID I, onstage at the newly-opened Grand Theatre June 26-28, was the culmination of an incredible journey for many of the community’s artists and ‘budding’ performers.
Evoking memories of Maury Breslow’s Princess Street: The Great Divide, Renders has sent some of the city’s leading choreographers, musicians , performers, puppeteers, and playwrights into the disparate corners of Kingston. Each artist was assigned a piece of Peter Handke’s text Self-Accusation and a community group with which to develop the text into a performance. The result was a tapestry of the diverse voices of Kingston taking over the stage at the Grand for a massive community arts celebration.
Austrian playwright Peter Handke, the writer of the acclaimed Wim Wenders film, Wings of Desire, was renowned for theatrical explorations called “speak-ins”. The best known of these was Self-Accusation, the inspiration for I SAID I. It focused on the positive, self-affirming journey towards self-expression and self-worth. Renders described I SAID I as “a theatrical, musical and spectacular gathering of voices, celebrating the diversity of our communities and the power of the arts to bring people together.”
This innovative community event features individuals and groups from all over city. Theatre Kingston Artistic Director Kim Renders enlisted the help of Kingston artists David Archibald, Anne Hardcastle, Clarke Mackey, Kevin Head, Annie Milne, Kathryn McKay, and Ebon Gage, to work with groups such as the H’art School of Smiles, the North End Penguins, Artreach, the Immigrant Services of Kingston (ISKA), the Wally Elmer Neighbourhood Centre, the Kingston Military Resource Centre and many more. The event also featured performances by Kingston’s own The Gertrudes, actor Ron Easteal, the Barefoot Players and poet Donna Lee Iffla to name a few.

Regina Rosen Auditorium, The Grand Theatre, 218 Princess St.
General Admission Seating, Orchestra and Balcony Levels
Showtimes: Thurs June 26, Friday 27at 8:00 p.m. Saturday June 28 at 2:30 p.m.
Visit www.theatrekingston.com for more information.
This production was made possible with support from the City of Kingston, the Kingston Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Council.

"Report Card Day" June 2008

Many community members joined us to learn more about our programs, our students' accomplishments, the Inclusive Post Secondary Experience pilot project at Queen's University, the pilot project results from phase I and plans for phase II.

"Surroundings" Exhibit April 2008

H’art School of Smiles was proud to present this new exhibit created by its students. This new collection of acrylic paintings was inspired by this year’s literacy focus, “Being a Good Neighbour” and all its meanings including:good citizenship, partnerships, environmental stewardship and sharing resources.

As a whole this collection asked us to consider the abundant beauty in the world around us.

The exhibit was displayed at Windmills Cafe located at 184 Princess Street in Kingston from April 21 - May 31 2008.

"Newton Finds a Home" December, 2007

This is the second book collaboratively written and illustrated by the students of H'art School and is available now for only $20. The book launch was held on December 13th, 2007 at Indigo Books located at 259 Princess Street was a great success. H'art also thanks Chapters on Princess Street and the Starbucks Coffee located on 329 Johnson Street for helping us sell copies of the book and original illistrations from the book.  The book picks up the story of our popular character as he moves out on his own and searches for his place in the world.  It is a story about belonging and friendship.  The book was made possible through the support of Child Development Centre, Molson Brewing Company, Brown's Fine Foods, Gordon's Estate Services, Sun Life Financial, Religious Hospitallers of Saint Joseph of the Hotel Dieu of Kingston, Josee Theriault of RBC Dominion Securities, The Kingston & District Civitan Club and ArtsVest.

"Friends of Margrit" September, 2007

The event was a genuine outpouring of appreciation for Margrit Choy, a remarkable Kingston volunteer, and her commitment to serving people with special needs in Kingston.

Amongst Margrit Choy’s greatest contributions is her role in starting Special Olympics in Kingston with her two friends, Judy Secker and Stephanie Beauregard.

The Friends of Margrit event raised over $2000, with more pledges and donations still rolling in, which will be used to establish the Laura Choy Citizenship Award at the Community Foundation of Greater Kingston. In the near future, the Choy family will be able to designate the earnings from the fund to recognize a person with special needs who makes a difference in Kingston.

You can learn more about how to donate to the award by contacting H'art.

"All About Home" May 2007

H'art School of Smiles proudly presented a new exhibit by the students of H'art Studio at Windmills Café.  
This new collection of acrylic paintings was inspired by the semester's focus on physical belonging and a sense of place. Literacy lessons explored safety, security, shelters of the world and the environment. Vibrant images of friends and family flourish in this study of the "ideal home". As a whole, the collection asks us to consider what we really need to be happy

"The Big Ask Show & Tell" December 2006

This original play was held on Friday, December 8th, 2006, at Duncan McArthur Hall. Special thanks go to directors Kathryn MacKay and Kathi Toth-Switzer for their hard work and commitment to the project.

This show was a theatrical retrospective featuring adult students with special needs in scenes from H'art famous plays including "Talking Myself" (2005), "Martadella's Gift" (2000), "Aardv'ARK" (2003) and "Gushin' with Gershwin" (2000).

Over 1,000 people clearly saw the growth in the performance of our students on stage. In the earlier plays, they often spoke short lines of dialogue and wore costumes. In later plays, such as the sold-out Talking Myself performed in both Kingston and Montreal, students contributed their own monologues about hopes, dreams and desires and presented them against stark backdrops without costumes. There was a dramatic reading from the students' first book, Newton Rides the Bus.

We thank many friends who helped out such as the narrators Beth Pater, Anne Hardcastle and Greg Wanless- the Artistic Director of the Thousand Islands Playhouse, hosts Jim Brown of Brown's Fine Food and Alicia Gordon of Gordon's Auctions, singer Susan Graff, and M.P.P. Ernie Parsons

.

We extend our gratitude to Rowan Ramsay of Ramsay Media, Stage Director Kate Ottaway, Stage Manager Dan Rider, Lighting and Sound Designer Larry Stafford, and Choreographer Melissa Mahady Wilton of ConCorps Dance.

We also thank all our important play volunteers and musicians, Ellen Hamilton, Chris Coleman, Ryan Quinlan Keech, Sophie Szczesniak, as well as costume makers Annie Milne and June Methot. Thanks to the Queen's Film Department and Sirin Erensoi.

Thanks again to our play patrons, Josée Thériault of RBC Dominion Securities, Dona and Barry Riddell, Bill and Nancy Gray, Mike Patterson of RBC Dominion Securities, Dr. J. Standley, and the Wolfe Island Bakery.

The Big Ask Show & Tell was being made possible through the support of the Ontario Arts Council, City of Kingston Healthy Communities Fund, The Davies Charitable Foundation, RBC Dominion Securities, Kingston and District Civitans, KINCORE Holdings Limited, Hotel Dieu Hospital, Wallack's, Kingston Frameworks, Kingston This Week and the Kingston Whig Standard.

"Newton Rides the Bus" October 2006

This is the first book collaboratively written and illustrated by H'art, and is available now for only $20. The book launch held on October 16th, 2006 at Indigo Books located at 259 Princess Street was a great success. H'art also thanks Chapters on Princess Street and all the Starbucks Coffee locations in Kingston for helping us sell copies of the book. The book was made possible through the support of the Community Foundation of Greater Kingston, Hotel Dieu Hospital, the Ontario Arts Council, KINCORE Holdings Limited, RBC Dominion Securities, and The Davies Charitable Foundation.

"Definition of Community" May 2006

H’art Studio’s students exibited mixed-media art at Windmills Café, located at 184 Princess Street, during the month of May. The exhibit featured a mix of watercolours, acrylic paintings, and two-dimensional sculptures capturing the students’ impressions of the roles and responsibilities of citizens in the community.

"Talking Myself" - December 1 and 3, 2005

Our musical play “Talking Myself” was held at Sydenham Street United Church in Kingston on December 1st and 3rd, 2005. It was our dream that this play would encourage a large audience to become more aware of the abilities, dreams, feelings of joy and pride, and talents of adults with special needs. The enduring support of the community meant the H’art Studio Players acted for nearly 1,200 people and our dream came true!

This dream only took shape through the hard work and dedication of our many play volunteers. We would like to convey our gratitude to Director Annie Milne, Music Director Ellen Hamilton, Rowan Ramsay, Pat Graham, and Kathryn MacKay.

"The Definition of Community" - May 1-31, 2006

This mixed-media exhibit was held at Windmills Café. The word "community" can mean many things. We all belong to a collection of communities.Theexhibit revealed what community means through the eyes of adults with special needs.

“An Affair with H’art” – May 3, 2005
Hot Jazz, torch songs, and cool blues filled the night during the Cabaret Night “AN AFFAIR WITH H’ART” in support of H’art Studio. Presented by RBC Dominion Securities and hosted by H’art Studio’s participants with intellectual disabilities, the evening of musical performances, skits and laughter celebrated self-esteem at Memorial Hall, Kingston City Hall.
Celebrity talent included one of Canada’s finest jazz vocalists Jude Johnson, Kingston’s own critically-acclaimed Night Sun, Greg Wanless and Kathryn MacKay of the Thousand Islands Playhouse, Alicia Gordon of Gordon’s Auctions, and H’art Studio’s participants performing an original blues composed by Ellen Hamilton, lyrics by Joanne Langlois’ and Heather Haynes’ of “Bethie’s Got the Blues”. Food was by Kingston’s fabulous chef, Clark Day. Participants showed original watercolours kindly framed by Kingston Frameworks alongside painted mirrors and brilliant canvases.

“Self-Esteem, Self-Portraits” – May 1- 31, 2005
The portraits in this exhibit held at Windmills Café were the result of many months work by H’art Studio’s participants. The participants were asked to answer the question “Who am I” during literacy lessons. The lessons emphasized self-esteem, self-awareness, and self-reflection and were delivered in conjunction with art lessons on portraiture and drawing the human face and figure.

“Making History” – December 4, 2004
H'art Studio premiered the short film of personal historical vignettes “his/herSTORY”, performed “Ode To Susannah Moodie” with members of Open Voices and the Loyalist Enhanced Arts Program students from LCVI, and introduced College Bound with St. Lawrence College executive, Civitans, Civitan Foundation, Froujke Staal, and RBC representative Josee Theriault in attendance at Memorial Hall Kingston City Hall. Participants from Disabled Persons Action Organization from Watertown, New York were present to make a gift to the city and help auction their work. H’art participants auctioned their “hero tables” with the help of Alicia Gordon of Gordon Auctions.

“Building Bridges” – November/December 2004
An art workshop and exchange with the Disabled Persons Action Organization from Watertown, New York. We were able to introduce them to ideas of literacy, continuing education, and accessible communities. Their work was displayed at Making History, presented to Floyd Patterson as a representative for the city, and auctioned off in support of h’art studio. This project was funded through a Healthy Communities Grant from the City of Kingston.

“His/herSTORY” – October 2004
Exhibit of three-dimensional wood canvases depicting historical places and spaces around Kingston held at Windmills Café.

“With Time I Can…” - April 15, 2004
This was a Cabaret Night with talent organized by Kathryn MacKay. Kathryn enlisted a few of her close friends to put on a cabaret of skits and performances with a few of our h’artists. Her friends included the amazing: Greg Wanless, Matthew Gibson, Jennifer Radford Gibson, Bill Fisher, Theatre Kingston’s Craig Walker, Kingston Symphony’s Glen Fast, Jeremy Wanless, Marcus MacKay and Nick Adams. David Rogers and Mark Camilleri , Kathi Toth Switzer, and Alicia Gordon of Gordon’s Auctions for making the night so spectacular!

“With Time I Can… (Windmills exhibit)” – March, 2004
Exhibit of canvases expressing future goals, dreams and wishes held at Windmills Café.

“Wonder of Words” – December 2, 2003
We partnered for a joint fundraising opportunity with Big Sisters, Katarokwi Native Friendship Centre, and Hotel Dieu Hospital Youth Painters for our “Wonder of Words” event in December. It reinforced the importance of literacy and the inspiration of the written word. Held at Memorial Hall, Kingston City Hall.
“ Sound of the Word (Windmills exhibit)” – October 2003
This was an exhibit about the inspirational effects of music held at Windmills Café.

Mentor Projects – September 2003
Seven youth from Kingston, the Mentors, worked on their own community art projects and were peer support to our participants during this project funded through a Human Resources Development Canada grant. Some of their projects included:

• Rocking Horse window display
• Secura Financial Group commission
• “In the Footsteps” – Mentor exhibit held at Indigo Café
• Children’s Aid Society project–
• Interval House project
• Kingston Whig Standard presentation in support of literacy

"The Aardv'ARK"- April 29th & 30th 2003
H'art Studio performed the new musicial at the Duncan McArthur Auditorium. It was a FUNdraiser for their 2 programs. It was written by Kathryn MacKay, Dawn Diamond and Rob Torr and directed by Jennifer Radford Gibson. The cast included over 40 special needs and began rehearsing a year ago. The play was a fanciful retellig of the Noah's ARk story.

"The Box" - November 21, 2002
H'art Studio & h'ArTWORKS along with Reid & Siemonsen held "The Box" - A children's furniture fashion show & auction Art from the heart of those with special needs. The catering was provided by Windmills Cafe. The silent auction and the not so silent auction was conducted by Alicia Gordon & Kelly Dear.

"Positive Graffiti" - September 2002
With the support of the Healthy Community Grant from the City of Kingston, H'art Studio participants and community groups partnered together to paint our city and the reworking of several city building walls. Plastering, priming, and then placing positive words all over the prepared and designated space. The side photos are H'art participants working with Sister Marilyn with some of the 'positive graffiti' in the background.

"Conversations over Tea" April 1-30, 2002
This exhibit was the result of H'art's participants with special needs and interviews with seniors from the Seniors Association, Kingston region and Routes to Learning as they shared personal memories and experiences. Together the wisdom exchanges supported the common ideal of these organizations 'that learning is a process that lasts a lifetime'. Whether 18 or 80, vital seniors and youth with special needs gained new insights into each other's world and the potential to help each other.
Windmills Cafe, 184 Princess St., Kingston

"Stone Soup"- November 15, 2001
This is an old story about a community contributing a little to make a pot of soup that fed all. Using this as a metaphor we invited the community to support the youth with special needs as they journey towards independence gained through a little knowledge and experience. This event included our video - "Stone Soup: Everyone Has Something to Give" by Brad Smith, the Stone Soup skit featuring h'art soup chefs singing the song 'Your Love is Better than Ice cream' with Kyra Walker, soup sharing from Pan Chancho and our silent auction. This event was held at Memorial Hall - City Hall, Kingston

"Destination - Adventure" - April 2 - May 5, 2001
This was a collection of new watercolours, paintings on canvas, and spectacular plaster sculptures that captured the results of adventures & dreams of travel by H'art's participants with special needs. Windmills Cafe, 184 Princess St., Kingston, ON

"Gushin' with Gershwin"- November 24th, 2000
Famous Musicians & Youth with Abilities performed on stage to sold out audiences at Kingston's Grand Theatre
Video tapes of this event are available

"My Story Me" - October 1st to November 4th, 2000
This was a collection of original artwork depicting personal self-portraits by h'art' studio’s young adults with special needs.
Windmills Cafe in Kingston.

"Martadella's Gift" – May 2000
The story of a young Prince who helps Princess Martadella in her journey to regain her voice.Composed and written by Kathi Toth-Switzer and Gordon Sinclair. H'art Studio's Martadella project began with rehearsals in December 1999 and went on the stage of Kingston's Grand Theatre, May 2000. Directed by Kathryn MacKay of the Thousand Island Playhouse, Martadella's Gift showcased the abilities of youth with special needs in this exciting and heart-warming production. 2 sold out performances.

"I Need to Be Seen" – October 1999
Special needs participants painted their wishes and loves on canvas as well as creating 3-D wood sculptures.
This show was the 1st in many that will prove how special needs people have a voice in our community.
Windmills Cafe in Kingston.

Other Projects/Events Have Included:

• Performance for the Lieutenant Governor Hilary Weston when she visited Kingston in May 2002
• Guest / commissioned work for the Community Arts Ontario Conference in Kingston April 2001
• Portions of Martedella's Gift were performed for the National Child Institute Gala in Ottawa on November 2000
• H'art performed at Queen's University for the International Music Conference in March 2000
• Women’s Art Festival contributions