Lyle
and I are in Winnipeg. Today we visited the Canadian Museum of Human
Rights. The building is relatively new, with a unique architectural
design. The base is a half globe with a tall tower pointing skyward.
I
was excited to visit the museum because currently it is host to a
photography display titled "Sight Unseen." The photographs in the
display were all taken by camera artists with visual impairments ranging
from total blindness to partial sight. Several photos were accompanied
by tactile and/or auditory descriptions.
There were brief
biographies of all the photographers. Many gave their reasons for
taking up this particular art form. Some said that it was a p9olitical
statement and inroad to a visual world. I immediately identified with
one comment, the gist of which said that sighted photographers
photograph what they see, but a legally blind person might photograph
something so that he/she can see it. I often ask Lyle to take a picture
of something so that I can see it more easily using my magnifying
technology at home.
While I was impressed with the "Sight Unseen"
display, I found the remainder of the museum - it is seven floors tall -
to be more geared to a visual experience. There was much to read and
many pictures to view. I was glad to have Lyle along to read and
explain things to me.
The museum covered many topics dealing with
disabilities, inclusion, and minority groups. The topics ranged from
national issues such as residential schools in Canada to international
issues such as apartheid, the holocaust, modern day refugees, and
discrimination against women and the gay community.
We spent
several hours at the museum, but the highlight for me was definitely the
Sight Unseen display. Winnipeg is only a temporary home for the display
as it moves on (I think to Vancouver) in the third week of September.
Don't miss it if you have the opportunity to see it.
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