Digital illustration created in Procreate, commissioned by the MacLaren Art Centre, Art for Lunch, 2023
Original video timed to script created using Digital illustration created in Procreate, Affinity Photo & iMovie
From the original intro – “This story begins in 1984, CFB Borden, Ontario. James Cameron’s movie The Terminator is in theatres, Alex Trebek hosts the relaunch of Jeopardy, When Doves Cry by Prince hit number one on the music charts, and Canada competes in the summer Olympics winning 44 medals. And my 20-year-old brother David is out on bail and scheduled for a court date. He calls home to tell my mother. This digital art piece is the storytelling of my family’s helplessness in experiencing years of my brother’s homelessness, and the issues that led him to his misadventures on the streets of Canada and the U.S.”
As I tell the story of my brother David’s struggles and the story of my family’s challenges, their portrait came to life on screen. Using Procreate to draw, and editing in a few family photos, (not seen in this version) I illustrated our tale.
David’s issues include being undiagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. “Call a kid a stupid, hopeless, idiot enough times, he believes it.”
The full performance is 40 minutes, and includes topics of homelessness and its social impact, learning disabilities and education, AIDS and HIV, and family dynamics. It will bring tears to your eyes and offers insight to current issues.