Monianne

Toronto, Canada

About the Artist:
Monianne was one of Canada's leading fashion photographers, traveling around the world in search of great locations to enhance the texture, colour and beauty of the clothes she was commissioned to photograph, always on location, always with natural light. Then in l977 her world was shattered by the devastating news that she had multiple sclerosis. In spite of the diagnosis, she continued to work and travel, finding ways to manage the encroaching disease until five years ago when, confined to an electric scooter, the paralysis in her right hand made it impossible to shoot any more photographs.

Then digital cameras arrived on the scene: lighter, easier to hold, and much easier to shoot, or so it seemed. After several days Monianne realized that stretching her left fingers across the camera was not going to work. An observant friend suggested holding the camera upside down and depressing the shutter with the thumb! Now, she was taking pictures again, this time of the beauty found within her own neighbourhood. These captivating images were made into photo-cards to share with her friends. It was around this time, while surfing on the net, that she stumbled across the website "Biz Futures", a Toronto Business Development Centre training program for disabled people wanting to start their own business.

TBDC offers entrepreneurial training programs to assist and advise entrepreneurs during the start-up phases of their business ventures. In 2003 they were honoured as the "Incubator of the Year" by the U.S. based National Business Incubation Association. A year ago, they launched BIZ FUTURES, a Self-Employment and E-Commerce Skills Program for People with Disabilities.

Monianne has just graduated from this new and innovative course. Through the program's guidance and support she is now embarking on her second career. "Impressions By Monianne" produces specialty PhotoCards, Calendars and Framed Photographic Prints, depicting the more charming aspects of Toronto neighbourhoods and the natural beauty, often overlooked, that can be found just around the corner.