My Arts Practice
As a highly-qualified Disability Equality Consultant/Educator and Blind Photographer, I am concerned with the lack of provision regarding facilities and accessible interpretation of visual arts events for visually disabled artists and audiences.
What does my work offer audiences and or arts organisations?
Answer:
For visually disabled people, a way of interacting with visual art, both as audiences and artists.
For sighted people, the opportunity to view visual art from a totally new and challenging perspective.
Apart from my roles as a Potographer and an Educator, for several years I was a Scottish Arts Council Specialist Adviser, providing disability guidance and evaluation of visual arts events. The SAC can be contacted at:
Scottish Arts Council, 12 Manor Place, Edinburgh EH3 7DD Scotland UK
Tel: +44 (0) 131 226 6051
Fax: +44 (0) 131 225 9833
Until November, 2008, I also served on the Board of Directors for Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, providing guidance relating to Disability Equality, access an networking. ESW can be contacted at:
Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, 25 Hawthornvale, Edinburgh EH6 4JT
Tel: +44 131 551 4490
Fax: +44 131 551 4491
Putting Passion into Practice
I became a professional photographer in 2006 when I was asked by Paul Nesbitt, Director of Inverleith House, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh to create a unique, pictorial exhibition of the Garden entitled: ‘Two Voices’ from my perspective as a totally blind person. I was aided and abetted in this undertaking by Rebecca Marr, a highly-skilled professional photographer who not only tutored me in the use of the camera equipment but also assisted me around the Gardens, pointing out areas and subjects of particular interest. My photographs were then interpreted into raised images by Lara Latcham and audio description, braille and large-print text. This approach enables my photographs to be appreciated by both visually disabled and sighted audiences alike.
Digital photography, I have discovered, is an excellent medium for reflecting and exploring my life experience. It also gives me ‘a voice’ and together with raised images, it dispels the myth that totally blind people cannot possibly possess vision and artistic imagination or participate fully in the visual arts.
My thanks go to the Arts Trust for Scotland who, in January, 2007, enabled me to purchase my Nikon D80 digital camera and a Zychem fuse heater for producing raised images. Without this equipment, my photography and associated work would not be possible.
I should also like to thank all my collaborators, especially Camilla Adams who creates raised interpretations of my photographs and my Husband, Jim who produces braille and large-print text for all my exhibitions.
Collaborating with artists of differing disciplines is, in fact, an essential ingrediet of my Practice. Camilla and her predecessor, Lara Latcham, visual artists, help me to develop new methods of creating tactile imagery. David Grinley, a talented photographer in his own right, assists me with photographic technical support, whilst sound artists provide guidance and expertise in creating audio sound pieces to accompany my work.
With this valuable source of expertise and support, I have been able to create fully accessible exhibitions since the Summer of 2006.
These exhibitions were:
November 2008 to February 2009, ‘Two Voices III - Horticulture Behind the Scenes for Inverleith House, RBGE.
September-October 2008, ‘Back Stage’ Traverse Theatre Bar-Cafe. Illustrated life behind the scenes at the Theatre.
February 2008, ‘Temptation Denied’ photographic exhibition, Portobello. Illustrated the inaccessibility of high street shops for blind people.
Summer 2007, ‘Pyramids of Portobello’ for the Travelling Gallery ‘Access All Areas’ Autumn 2007 Exhibition which travelled the length and breadth of Scotland over a three month period.
Spring-Summer 2007, ‘Two Voices II’ Botany Behind the Scenes’, Inverleith House, RBGE.
Summer 2006, my first ‘Two Voices’ photographic exhibition for Inverleith House, Edinburgh. This life changing event became the model and tuchstone for my future work.
For those who are interested, my artwork is available for sale and commission. For further information, please click here.
Some Visitor Comments:
“Interesting interpretation. Wish my blind friend had been with me. She really missed out!” Jenny Peters
“Wonderful Images!” Unknown
“A wonderful idea for both the sighted and blind.” I. Morrison
“An Excellent Enterprise. Delightful!” Basher Almied
“Thought provoking, impressive work.” Isabelle Blake
“This is one of the most inclusive exhibitions I have seen and is to be congratulated. I know from first-hand experience how valued art galleries can be by blind and visually impaired people. They can access it!” Mary Gifford
“Breath-taking!” Joanne Stevenson
“Excellent! Well doneRosita! Love the photos!” Darren Wright
“Amazing! Inspirational! Strength of all those who find they have problems!” Christina
“Cutting Edge concept. I learned what goes on at the Gardens.” Unknown
“I am a photographer and found this utterly inspiring. Beautifully presented too!” Rachel Caben
Click to visit The Scottish Arts Council