A celebration of tactile stimming and neurodivergent expression through movement.
A project in QUIET PARADE, a low-stimulation parade in Kjipuktuk (Halifax) as part of the Nocturne Festival, hosted at Fort Needham Memorial Park on October 16th 2022.
Organized by Aislinn Thomas, in collaboration with MSVU Art Gallery and with support from Eyelevel.
Created and (un)performed in collaboration with artists Britt Moore Shirley and ven cain.
Stim toys shared with the help of Raya Shields and Sam, and made along with the help of other participants in Tactile Stim Toy Workshops facilitated with Eyelevel and Wonder’neath's support.
Colourful blue yarn sleeve waving in motion and in focus
Colourful blue yarn sleeve waving and blurred in motion
Green yarn sleeve waving and blurred in motion
Colourful blue yarn sleeve waving in motion and in focus
"Exploring processes of unmasking and affirmation within visibility, this project is inspired by shared experiences of stimming and witnessing - How we may find security with one another amidst moments of potential vulnerability, and a sense of togetherness even in passing. Through vibrant multi-textured garments and stim toys, In Touch / In Motion visually amplifies neurodiverse movement in (un)performance and participation (in both overt and intrinsic forms)."
More thank yous :)
~To the fellow makers and performers in the Quiet Parade for making this experience all the magic that it was.
~To my parents for helping with the project's finishing touches.
~To Kawama Kasutu and Rebecca Fernandez for assisting with the open studio workshop at Wonder'neath.
~To Justin Jarvis, and Brandon Boyd, Maddi Tang, and Grey Piitaapan Muldoon for photo and video documentation.
"The stim toys shared through this project were created with the help of participants in tactile stim toy making workshops, interconnecting our community through tactile sensation distinct from visibility. Each of our experiences of this environment will be embedded in every movement and feeling we share In Touch / In Motion and connection we carry beyond the Quiet Parade."
