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Multimedia artist Mark Ware blogs about Cathedra 900, a multimedia event to be staged at Exeter Cathedral from summer 2012 to spring 2013.

A personal view from Mark Ware on the Paralympic legacy:

2 September 2012

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It was interesting to watch the openings to the Olympics and the Paralympics. The Olympics opening appeared to be about primarily England and nationalism, whereas the Paralympics was a positive statement about humanity and what we all share. Disability is suddenly in fashion again. An able-bodied friend said to me after the Paralympics opening ceremony: “It makes disability look cool, doesn’t it?” I had mixed feelings about this statement. Yes, it was great to...

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Cathedra 900: Walking in the Rain

30 August 2012

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photo of a man standing looking into a camera, inside Exeter cathedral

Mark Ware’s exhibition of the Cathedra 900 3D artwork banners at Exeter Cathedral has been extended until 30th September 2012. I don’t like to refer to myself as a ‘disabled artist’. ‘Disabled’ suggests to me something that has been rendered safe or useless. But I can’t deny what a wonderfully liberating effect disability has had on my way of thinking and upon my art. Before my stroke in 1996 I used to rush from A to B and not notice the gap that...

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Cathedra 900: Creating art I cannot see

30 July 2012

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photo of the inside of Exeter cathedral with artists banners hanging down from the central columns

My 3D artwork banner exhibition is now on show in Exeter Cathedral’s Nave until 31st August 2012. The exhibition is made up of twenty eight 3D images that are hanging from the Cathedral Nave’s fourteen giant columns. Visitors experience the 3D effect by using red/blue 3D glasses. The 3D technique is called ‘anaglyph’ and dates back to the 1850s. I’ve created 3D anaglyph images for the past 35 years. I was taught 3D photography by the late...

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Judging the eight Stroke Association art nominees: Angus Igwe

27 June 2012

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Over recent years I’ve been involved with supporting Interact Reading Service and The Stroke Association, two charities that help people with stroke. I do so as a result of my experiences as a stroke survivor. This year I was pleased to be invited by the Stroke Association to help judge the art category for its Life After Stroke Awards 2012. The winner we chose was Angus Igwe. He was presented with his award in London on 20th June. Angus is 60 and had a stroke in June...

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Cathedra 900: Beginnings and perspective

27 June 2012

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photo of stone pillars in Exeter cathedral

Mark Ware blogs about the influence of Alexander Rodchenko on his arts project in Exeter Cathedral Beginnings are strange things, aren’t they? Cathedra 900 began with thoughts about sea waves and the work of the Russian artist, Alexander Rodchenko. Several months ago I saw a T.V. programme about sea waves. It explained that out at sea, waves don’t move. Rather, it is energy that moves. Proof can be seen when a floating object bobs up and down on water as energy passes under it....

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Cathedra 900: Tagging photographs with disability

10 June 2012

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photo of a stone angel in Exeter cathedral

All of my photographs are tagged with disability. Since January I’ve taken several hundred digital photographs for the Cathedra 900 project at Exeter Cathedral. This is in preparation for the 3D exhibition that will run from 23rd July until 31st August. From the outset I’ve catalogued each shot for easy access at a later date. But what I hadn’t reckoned on was how my disability would help with this process. I had my stroke over 16 years ago. It impacts upon every aspect...

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Mark Ware introduces Cathedra 900, a multimedia event to be staged at Exeter Cathedral

1 May 2012

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Supported by Arts Council England and Exeter Cathedral, Cathedra 900 is an enormously exciting project for me. This year the earliest part of Exeter Cathedral will be around 900 years old. Cathedra 900 will be a celebration and an artistic interpretation of the time line of the Cathedral building. For a detailed breakdown of what the project entails, please visit http://www.disabilityartsonline.org.uk/cathedra900 I'm fascinated by many aspects of this building and its impact over...

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Colin Hambrook [ED]

2 September 2012

Russel Parton published an interesting overview titled: 'London 2012 and disability arts: 'we'll be famous for 15 minutes' in the Guardian http://apps.facebook.com/theguardian/culture-professionals-network/culture-professionals-blog/2012/aug/28/disability-arts-london-2012-impact