Invisible to Others
Recap
Artist Bio: Stephanie Eley is a photographer based in Atlanta,
Georgia where her fine art develops conversations around social activism. She
has shown at the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Georgia, and the National
Women’s Caucus for Arts Organization in New York and California. She received
her Bachelors of Fine Art from Old Dominion University, Virginia, in 2012 and
will receive her Masters of Fine Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design,
Georgia, in Spring 2015. Her current work
Invisible to Others focuses on the limitations of the medium of
photography as it communicates to the visually impaired.
In examining a group
that has been traditionally excluded from the fine art gallery, this work
addresses universal humanity, while creating new inclusive ways that art can be
presented through secondary senses as well as sight. Invisible to Others incorporates a multi-sensory presentation of
portraits, alternative processes, and audio.
Statement: Invisible to Others
developed from my personal reflection with having poor vision, I am captivated
in the concept of a tangible experience. Questioning the permanence of sight, I’ve
always feared the idea of experiencing this world without my primary means of
connection. Because of this I have continued to revisit this concept of vision
as I create work that welcomes those living an altered visual experience into
the gallery by examining their existence.
Invisible
to Others features visual arts about and for those with visual
impairments but is inclusive to the sighted as well. I have created work that
invites the viewer to use their sense of touch, sight, and sound to aid in
their experience. Presented through two series of portraits; the viewer is
invited to explore imagery enhanced by luminosity as well as Braille. The
second portraits are intimate cyanotypes (an alternative process that produces
a photographic blueprint) that portray those interviewed in the making of this art.
Alongside the photographs are embossed diptychs (paired artwork that is
hands-on to the viewer and elevated with Braille) inspired from diagnostic tools used to gauge levels of perception.
Welcoming all, this exhibition presented various ways to perceive art. The soundscape
within this exhibition expands on how those with a visual impairment have coped
and persevered in living in a sighted society,
elaborating on the individuality and audacity within this community.
The
Opening Reception: The opening of the show was an
immaculate experience to see come to life. With 200 participants from the
Atlanta community the visually impaired and sighted met in the space to
experience this work the way I had anticipated. To assist the visually impaired
I had volunteers available to guide participants around the space, describe the
art, and Braille translators available to help understand the inscriptions
within the art. Darrin Snulligan is totally without sight due to a failed
attempt at suicide. I met him along the developing process of this project.
Today he is a motivational speaker and a cook. In hopes of returning the
gratitude of being so welcoming, I asked Darrin to prepare the refreshments for
that evening. He prepared and delivered a beautiful and appetizing arrangement
of h’orderves for our guests. I am grateful to those who assisted that evening;
many hands came together to help achieve this formidable task.
I led brief “ touch tours” through the
space that evening encouraging the willingness of various visual communities to
work together in order to addresses our culture’s social gap. Personally,
witnessing people from various demographics join together in efforts of
removing stigmas associated with being impaired was powerful. I believe
everyone went home in reevaluation of what it means to be without sight, as
well as in self-evaluation of what it means to have an impairment. Amongst the
chaos that evening I was most taken by the individuals that pulled me aside to
thank me for offering a new experience- having never been invited to a gallery.
What we accomplished March 27th, 2015 was the beginning of how to
develop a system for visual communities to coexist in the world of art.
After
the Opening: The show was up until April 3rd, 2015 and during
that week I had a few private tours join me. Fellow students from SCAD joined me with their professors. A group of students from the Academy for the
Blind- Macon, GA brought their high school art students, and in honor of autism
awareness month a group of disabled adults joined me. I am glad that I had the
opportunity to meet with both groups; it was truly moving to see the passion
and desire they share with me to experience art.
I am excited to progress as a visual
artist within this concept. My hopes are to continue to create future exhibitions
that stand for the same purpose - demanding the presence of the impaired in the
world of art.
Find out more thats going on in my head
All the best,
Stephanie Eley
