Jan 14 - 15 2023
Cycles of Care

Cycles of Care

Presented by Art Spin and Artscape at Artscape Weston Common

Cycles of Care is an covid-conscious experimental performance project by Shay Erlich with production support from Paulina Drohomyrecky exploring access intimacy and care. Taking place in an accessible sauna, disabled people and their care pods are invited to a 60 minute sweat experience, where we jointly create and reflect on care. Each sauna cycle will have a guiding question for reflection and conversation, and at the end of the cycles a poem will be created drawn from our joint reflections. The poems created will be shared with participants, and also with the broader community (at a later date). Spaces are extremely limited with four encounters total over the two days.

 

Cycles of Care: Covid Safety Protocols

As we are in another Covid surge and disability populations (particularly those who receive community care) are at significantly increased risk of Covid complications, Cycles of Care has developed a robust covid protocol for in person programming at this time.

Everyone participating in the Cycles of Care project must be masked (With KN95 masks or better). Anyone who is not able to mask for medical reasons will unfortunately not be able to participate at this time. Future iterations of this project may offer remote participation options for participants who cannot mask, but this is not available at this time.
Proof of vaccination (2+ doses) prior to the event will be required. The artists and support staff for this event have been fully vaccinated (4-5 doses) and are also happy to share proof of their vaccination status with participants if requested. Again, we recognize that this may present an access barrier for some potential participants, and we hope to offer remote options to serve you in the future.
Each session is designed for one participant or participant pod. We encourage sharing this experience with folks who act as caregivers or care receivers in your life, but request that everyone who accompanies you is part of the same pod.
The day has been programmed to allow 30 minutes for air exchange and cleaning between each iteration of the program.
The space will have HEPA filtration between sessions (though not during due to noise considerations) to decrease the risk of any air or viral exchange between participants.
CO2 monitoring will be available if participants would like to access it

Admission Info

Spaces are extremely limited with four encounters total over the two days.

Dates & Times

2023/01/14 - 2023/01/15

Location Info

Artscape Weston Common

34 John St, Toronto, ON M9N 0B2

Accessibility Info

Cycles of Care is a co-designed accessible experience. As a result, the access features considered below should be understood as a menu of options that we will pull from together to design the experience that is most accessible for you and your pod.

  • The Sauna is wheelchair accessible via ramp with a hand rail
  • There is a plastic transfer chair that can be used to avoid exposing a wheelchair to the heat of the sauna
  • The benches of the sauna are repositionable and can be moved to a location that makes transferring easier (though not necessary if you wish to stay in the transfer chair)
  • A wooden transfer board will be available for use
  • We will be moving back and forth between the sauna and an indoor space in Artscape Weston Commons during the experience
  • A PSW with community arts experience is on site for additional physical support and assistance
  • The experience can be offered natively in ASL or spoken English. Please note that as we will not have an interpreter, everyone in the pod must have a common language.
  • Although, typically in communal saunas silence is encouraged, participants will be able to choose from a silent contemplative experience or a more conversational one, or whatever combination of both makes you most comfortable
  • A variety of art materials will be available for you to create and share your thoughts in the formats that are most accessible to you
  • A large single user accessible washroom with grab bars is on site. Unfortunately, we do not have an adult change table available at this venue.
  • The most convenient address for Wheeltrans Drop off or Pick up is 34 John Street (Artscape Weston Commons)
  • The closest accessible transit station is the Weston GO/UP Express station
  • The closest accessible subways stations are Lawrence West and Keele or Jane stations
  • This is not a vision centered experience and tactile art supplies will be available
  • Scent free participation is requested and the sauna itself does not utilize scents
  • Each participant will be contacted in advance to shape the experience together, please ensure to use an email that you check for your registration.