Art Perspective, Be Introspective

Living with sight loss can sometimes be like walking or driving through a city with a lot of scaffolding. There are obstacles and one must take detours, adjust schedules and change routines due to the challenges it presents. As the scaffolding changes locations throughout the city due to ongoing construction, both pedestrians and drivers must be vigilant and continually adapt and change plans and routines in order to navigate through it successfully.

Those of us who live with sight loss have to be creative and improvise, make new routines, invent new ways to adapt. Adjustment and adaptation to the obstacles presented by sight loss can lead to many challenges, but also many positive experiences, surprises and insights along the way. If we allow ourselves to be introspective and creative, persevere in the face of adversity, and be courageous by stepping away from the fear and isolation that often threatens to accompany sight loss, we will grow from and be strengthened by those challenges. We will ultimately be able to reach out beyond that fear and isolation, build new bridges in our community that we may not have otherwise built and become stronger and more resilient for having lived with sight loss.

Art Perspective, Be Introspective! Will consist of 8 tables. These tables will be connected by a rope, which participants must follow to move from table to table while wearing either vision loss simulators or a blindfold. At four of these tables will be challenges/obstacles to experience; and at the other four will be tactile art to surprise participants after overcoming these challenges. Each table will have a volunteer who will guide the participant through the challenge or surprise. There is a lot of positivity, fun and detail involved in this exhibit. As participants navigate their way between tables, there will also be volunteers who will help them along the way. This volunteer assistance is not only a matter of practicality, but also an illustration of how connected we are as a community to each other, and how that reliance on one another strengthens our community. We hope that each challenge, each tactile art exhibit, and each interaction with our volunteers will give participants new insights and perspective that will enrich their lives and also provide understanding of what it truly means to thrive with sight loss in our community.