MFPA ART EXHIBITION To commemorate its 50th anniversary, the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists, including 18-year-old Amanda Orichefsky, exhibit their work. All of these artists paint holding brushes in their mouth or with their feet as a result of a disability. To September 28. MFPA office, 183 St. Clair West. 416-979-1120, www.mfpacanada.com. Rating: NNNNN
What kind of paintings do you do?
Landscapes, mostly. I’m also really into Aboriginal art. One of my favourite paintings that I did is of a chief floating above a pool of water with the sun in the background. It’s a watercolour and a bit abstract.
What is the nature of your disability?
When I was born, I was diagnosed with arthrogryposis, which is a lack of muscles in all my limbs and the stiffening of my joints.
What’s the trick to painting with your mouth?
Make sure you hold the brush with your back teeth. If you hold it with the front, the brush moves around more and you don’t have as much control. But don’t put the brush so far back that you choke yourself.
Have you ever choked yourself?
Just once, which is how I learned how to hold it.
You appeared in a Ronald McDonald House commercial with Wayne Gretzky. What was that like?
Oh, boy. Wayne was very interesting, actually. He didn’t speak to me very much, but at the end he gave me his Canadian Olympic jersey that he autographed to me.
Are you a hockey fan?
Oh yeah! I love the Maple Leafs, of course. My favourite player, though, is Tie Domi. I met him at a game once. He’s a great player.
Do you find people can be awkward when they meet you?
Yeah. I understand it can be strange for them. But when I start talking to them or when they see me paint, they realize I’m just like anybody else.
