Disability Arts Online

Day two of decibel 09 got off to a cerebral start with a breakfast meeting at the Town Hall focussing on networks and consortia. These meets are usually really useful and they have the added bonus of food, though I missed this one due to editing duties.

The Wednesday programme doesn't have any formal Deaf and Disabled strands, but there were some real stand-out gigs during the day, anyway, which we've covered with pics and notes.

Iriguchi's technically accomplished live art piece played out through his own interaction with a set of discretely hidden laptops. It's a mix of narration, what I guess must be Flash animation or even Powerpoint, and a really oddly fascinating world view.

The artist drew us through his story of impregnation, birth, life and death; as he went he navigated a digital landscape that cleverly switched framing from 'real' to virtual and back again.

Sounds complex? Perhaps, but it was made easy to consume by Iriguchi's distinctive visual sense of humour, and his fascination with rabbits...

The other live art highlight of the day for me was Stacy Makishi's piece at the greenroom, a two-hander called 'Stay.'

I guess you could call this a love story, but one that's bitter sweet. Makishi's a fabulous storyteller in the old tradition, but with a twist of modern sass and a wierd thread of bestiality to keep you on your toes!

In my mind, as I watched and enjoyed the show were early People Show projects and strangely, Morecambe and Wise. I think I need to get out a bit more.

Great stagecraft meant there was plenty of oddity and danger (well, ok, water being poured out of glasses) and some great moments with feathers and shaving foam.

People were buzzing after this show and the vibe went on all day after that - I heard Tunde Jegede's Ancient Futures set described by someone (Mark Williams) as 'genuinely world class', which must be a great boost for decibel.