The 13th annual Art of Disability Festival, which showcases several talented artists with disabilities from across Nova Scotia, was held Saturday at Pier 21 in Halifax. Photo by Glenn MacDonaldArticle contentArt is therapy for Kimberley Csihas.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentBeing bipolar and a survivor of a massive stroke 12 years ago, Csihas – a self-taught artist – has found an outlet in her love of oil paints.Article contentArticle content“It’s therapeutic,” Csihas said as she stood next to her display of paintings at the 13th annual Art of Disability Festival, which was held at Pier 21 in Halifax on Saturday.Article content“I had a massive brain stem stroke in 2013 and I was completely paralyzed on one side and was in a wheelchair. I had to relearn how to hold a paint brush. I had to reteach myself how to paint. And being bipolar, I’ve had a lot of struggles. I was a social worker before my stroke, but I couldn’t go back to that. So now I just paint full time, and I just like to play with oil paint.”Article contentArticle content Kimberley Csihas stands next to her paintings at the Art of Disability Festival in Halifax on Saturday. Photo by GLENN MacDONALDArticle contentCsihas was among 37 vendors participating in the festival, hosted by Independent Living Nova Scotia (ILNS).Article contentAn array of artwork and a variety of items such as jewelry, candles, cards and sculptures were on display, all made by Nova Scotians with disabilities.Article contentThe festival gives these artists the chance to showcase their work, highlighting what they can do and not what their disabilities are.Article content“I became part of the festival shortly after I had my stroke. They have kind of watched me recover. And now I teach one of the art classes for the festival,” said Csihas, who has an art studio – Birchtree Gallery – in Brookside.Article content“They have watched me get better and their support and everyone here, a lot of them are familiar faces that come back every year and it’s just a very welcoming and supportive environment. No matter what your ability or disability is. It’s a community. It’s really lovely.”Article contentArticle content Jennifer MacNeil, originally of Westville, displays her hand-made jewelry at the Art of Disability Festival in Halifax on Saturday. Photo by GLENN MacDONALDArticle contentThe festival drew over 500 attendees last year.Article content“This year we’re hoping to get even more,” said Cameron Pye, a summer coordinator for ILNS. “Each year it seems like the festival keeps growing.”Article contentIt’s a space to connect, celebrate diversity and support local talent.Article content“It’s a great opportunity to get their work in front of the public and it gives the artists their own platform because they don’t necessarily have that right in Nova Scotia,” Pye said.Article contentJennifer MacNeil, who only began designing colourful bracelets, anklets, necklaces and keychains eight months ago, was making her first trip to the festival.Article content Jennifer MacNeil poses for a photo with her guide dog Forrest, named after Forrest Gump, at the Art of Disability Festival in Halifax on Saturday. Photo by GLENN MacDONALDArticle contentAccompanied by her five-year-old guide dog Forrest (named after Forrest Gump; she’s Jenny), MacNeil, blind since birth, said she deals with anxiety disorder and “needed an outlet.”Article content“My friends said they were really nice and I should try to sell them,” recalled the 39-year-old MacNeil, who hails from Westville but lives in Halifax. “I was like, ‘No, this blind girl is not going to make money on this.’ But I decided to give it a shot.
Festival celebrates, showcases Nova Scotian artists with disabilities in welcoming and supportive environment
