(Durban
woman reflects after her appointment at the St John eye clinic. Photo by David
Prior)
St John South Africa, well-known
internationally for first-aid training and related services, is hosting a
touring photographic exhibition to promote the work conducted in the field of
eye care and the impact this work has had on the lives of everyday South
Africans.
The St
John Vision 20/20 Exhibition comes to the Durban
Art Gallery, opening on April 4, 2019, before touring to Simons Town,
Stellenbosch and Johannesburg throughout 2019.
Eighty percent of all blindness is preventable
or at least treatable. Healthy eyesight determines our quality of life and
everyday experiences whether it’s a child learning to read, a pedestrian
crossing the road or a breadwinner working to put a meal on the table for their
family.
Sight is a very personal and intimate
experience for each individual and this is at the heart of the exhibition. The
images showcase the individuals who benefit from the eye care services that St
John offers. The exhibition breathes life into its motto: Pro Fide – “Pro
Utilitate Hominum” which means For the Faith and in the service of humanity.
The exhibition features 32 photographs
taken by Cape Town photographer David Prior with accompanying explanatory
narratives, curated jointly by St John’s Chris Martin as exhibition Project
Manager, Robyn Keet as Creative Director, Dr Paul Bayliss and Thabo Seshoka
from ABSA Art Gallery and Sarah McGee from M Studio Community.
Everyone selected to be featured in the
exhibition has a personal story to tell. We meet among others, a dressmaker, a
truck driver, a construction worker and a community leader - people who shape
our lives and our communities, and all of whom are genuinely patients and
clients of St John. These are the people that St John South Africa serves.
Included in the exhibition are the stories
of the unsung heroes within St John - dedicated individuals who give their time
as optometrists, receptionists, and bookkeepers. Men and women working towards
a better vision, a grander vision, a 20/20 Vision.
The exhibition has very particular goals in
mind: its aim is to showcase how individuals’ lives are changed when they have
the gift of healthy eyesight and to raise awareness about the eye care work of
St John in local communities as well as to highlight the importance of
accessible, affordable, high-quality eye care.
St John was established in Grahamstown in
1883 and operates 12 Eye Care Clinics across South Africa, providing
professional eye testing and the dispensing of budget spectacles to members of
the community who are unable to afford commercial rates. In addition, St John
Eye Care Clinics diagnose cases where patients require corrective surgery, such
as cataracts, and refer them to local eye hospitals for treatment. This
screening process enables the hospitals to concentrate on their primary
function of surgery. Optometrists who practice at St John Eye Care Clinics are
also members of the South African Optometric Association.
In Durban, there will be various companion
events to accompany the exhibition which will be open to the public. Contact
Thulani Makhaye at DAG (Thulani.Makhaye@durban.gov.za) or email Chris Martin
(chris.martin@stjohn.org.za) for further details.
There is an exhibition walkabout on April 6
at 10h00 at the Durban Art Gallery. Also, on that Saturday morning there will
be free eye screenings held in the gallery. There are also vouchers which will
allow the bearer to go St John Eye Care Clinic for a free comprehensive eye
test which will be given to visitors who have attended the exhibition and have
had a free screening.
The ST JOHN VISION 20/20 EXHIBITION runs from
April 4 to 30, 2019, in the Durban Art Gallery (DAG) which is situated on the
second floor of the Durban City Hall building, enter opposite the Playhouse. It
is open seven days a week: Monday to Saturday: 08h30 to 16h00; Sunday and Public
Holidays: 11h00 to 15h45.
Entry is free and all are welcome! For more
info, contact the Gallery on 031 311 2264 / 9 or Jabu.Mngwengwe@durban.gov.za
(weekdays).
St John South Africa is grateful for the
support of Rapid Studio- SA’s leading photobook company; the Art Times,
PicFlick and the Durban Art Gallery
For more info visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/st-john-vision-2020-exhibition-durban-tickets-57790777772?aff=ebapi
Posts
