Senses

February 17th - March 25th 2007

Walford Mill Crafts is hosting a special exhibition called "Senses" which emphasises on using our senses to appreciate arts and crafts.

Each of our five senses plays an important part in our lives. We touch, hear, see, taste, and smell in order to adapt to a new environment; however, even if we are unable to use some of these senses, we can still appreciate the objects around us by using other senses.

 

Sherborne Contemporary Arts have initiated an exhibition to heighten our senses especially for people who are visually impaired.  The "Senses" exhibition will prove the fact that not having all our five senses does not predominate the making and appreciation of the arts and crafts. This exhibition will feature mixed craft work where visitors will be encouraged to view each exhibit
by touching and feeling.

One of the exhibitors, Paul Constant who is a photographer has collaborated with the charity Vision Aid Overseas showing how volunteer optometrists carry out eye examinations and dispense recycled glasses in a number of African countries. Many thousands of people with poor vision and little opportunity of obtaining glasses often fail to get an education, obtain a job or survive in sometimes hostile environments. Sherborne Contemporary Arts suggested that Paul made a statement portraying this aspect of Vision Aid Overseas' work for this exhibition on the theme of 'Senses'.

 

The photographs in this exhibition were taken on a subsequent visit to Ghana early 2006 and attempts to capture the essence of an eye clinic including some of the people who attended. With opticians in most high streets of the UK, we can easily forget that many developing countries have few if any facilities for eye examinations. Spectacles are either not available or prohibitively expensive. These images attempt to give an insight into a group of people less fortunate than ourselves shown through the perspective of the sense of sight.

The "Senses" exhibition featured in the Philip Goulden Gallery at Walford Mill Crafts from
February 17th until March 25th 2007.