Experiencing the
world through the creative senses of blind people.
Visitors to the
2014 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown will be able to experience the world
through the senses of the blind in The
House that We Live In exhibition hosted by the South African Library for
the Blind (SALB).
The exhibit is on
view at 1 Hemming Street just behind the SALB. Entrance is free. Visitors can
see paintings, carpets, baskets and photography by the blind and partially
sighted. There will also be an exhibition of books by blind authors as part of
the 95th anniversary celebrations of the SALB.
Braille and Tactile
books produced by the SALB will be available for visitors to touch and feel.
“We wanted to share
how the blind and partially-sighted experience the world through the use of
other senses and to highlight the creative and artistic abilities of blind and
partially-sighted people” says Pasha Alden, the curator of the exhibition, and
the SALB’s braille consultant. Her photography will be featured in The House that We Live In.
“As a photographer
with very little sight I walk up to an object, touch it and look very closely
at it. It is easier to do if there is a sharp contrast,” explains Alden. “My
photography is therefore based on the context in which I experience the object
and I attempt to convey the texture and feel of an object, landscape, in my
work. This is different to the way in which a sighted photographer sees the
world in terms of light and shades.”
Running during the
festival from July 3 to 12, the exhibition also features colourful sisal mats
made by the Rivoni Society for the Blind in Limpopo province. The woven cane
baskets that will be on show are made at the DreamHouse Workshop for the Blind
in Silverton, Pretoria.
An exhibition of
paintings by the late artist Pat McGaffin will take visitors through the
different stages of artistic expression while losing her remaining sight due to
a degenerative eye condition. Blind South African authors whose works will be
showcased include Dr William Rowland, Mrs Hazel Marshall, Mr Anton Pienaar and
Albie Sachs.
The inspiration for
the name of the exhibition comes from Dr Rowland’s book The House where I live. He is the current chair of the SALB board. International
works include those by Helen Keller and British Labour Party politician David
Blunkett.
“The variety and
breadth of exhibits Pasha has collated from around South Africa reflects the
reach of the SALB, which is a national resource based in Grahamstown,” says
SALB director Francois Hendrikz.
Festinos in
Grahamstown will also be treated to lunch-time mandolin and guitar concerts, as
well as performances by the GADRA marimba band on the pavement outside the
SALB.
More information
from Francois Hendrikz on 046 622 7226 or email: audiolib@salb.org.za
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