Becky Warnock and Hazel McLean using sensory techniques
To mark Deafblind Awareness Week charity Sense and PhotoVoice are hosting a sensory photography exhibition at TouchBase South East in Barnet on 24 and 26 June.
The exhibition provides a unique insight into the day to day experiences of ten photographers with sight impairments and additional disabilities, as well as painting a picture of the charity’s renovated day centre from their perspective. Working with the charity PhotoVoice, photographers learned how to tell a story using innovative participatory photography and digital storytelling methods.
The resulting photo exhibition offers an intriguing understanding into how the world can be perceived with different senses. The project is part of Sense’s, Arts & Wellbeing programme, which supports people with sight and hearing impairments at all stages of their involvement in the arts and cultural sector.
Kara Jarrold, Head of Arts & Wellbeing at Sense, said:
“It might seem impossible for anyone with any form of sight loss to take part in a visual arts project and especially photography, but through our arts programme we seek to constantly challenge forms for making art and presenting it to audiences. This project creates new exciting opportunities for the people we support to break down the barriers to expressing themselves and connecting with the world around them.”
Tom Elkins from PhotoVoice said:
“Using innovative sensory photography techniques, the workshops, led by Becky Warnock, encouraged participants to engage with the world around them using a variety of activities. The resulting exhibition showcases each participant’s work, and provides a unique insight into how they experience the world.
“PhotoVoice believes that photography is for everyone, and can cross barriers as a creative pursuit and means of communication. We hope that the exhibition and the insight it provides can help challenge perceptions.”
The PhotoVoice exhibition runs on 24th June from 2pm – 6pm, and on 26th June the exhibition will close with a summer fete from 11am-3pm to celebrate Deafblind Awareness Week. Admission is free.
Deafblind Awareness Week aims to raise awareness about deafblindness and to increase support for deafblind people and their families. This year’s Deafblind Awareness Week will be taking place from Monday 22 to Sunday 28 June 2015. For more info www.sense.org.uk/dbaw. Follow DBAW on social media #DBAW2015 #playalong
