The Bold Interview: Bruce Horak On Making Art, Bookkeeping and Kitchen Renovations When You're Visually Impaired

Having lost over 90% of his eyesight to a childhood Cancer, artist and actor Bruce Horak has has been making stuff in the world of the fully-sighted for over 25 years. Bilateral Retinoblastoma is a cancer which appears on the retina of the eyes, the treatment of which left Horak completely blind in one eye, with only 9% sight in the remaining eye. He has performed across Canada, the United States and Europe with Monster Theatre and his own solo shows This is Cancer which won a Betty Mitchell Award 2007 and Assassinating Thompson which explores the unique way he sees the world and the mysterious death of one of Canada’s greatest artists Tom Thomson all while Horak paints a picture of the audience.Horak also originated the role of Hemmer, the sightless alien on Paramount’s Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. On stage you can see him regularly perform with Spontaneous Theatre in their two hit shows Blind Date and Goblins Macbeth.Go to brucehorak.com for more information on his paintings and to sign up for his newsletter. As a longtime fan I know you’ll enjoy it.I spoke to Bruce from his home in Stratford Ontario where he was surrounded by his paintings and kitchen renovations. I asked him how the renos were going and how important is a new kitchen to a visually impaired person.How To Be A Person is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.To get in touch email me at:  [email protected] on Instagram  @jasonbrydenofcanadaThe song used in this podcast is called Sure and it was made by Braak which is electronic and cinematic music made by Øyvind Strand Endal from Norway.Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/braak/sureLicense code: AVTXANAUYZXHSHB0 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit boldacting.substack.com/subscribe