August 26 - Low Vision Artist

Denis Chabot has low vision. He is also a very talented sculptor. His wood carvings are exceptional.

Denis and I were introduced to each other by a mutual friend. Of course, the connection was that we both had low vision. Since that introduction, Denis and his wife Denise have been faithful members of our vision loss support group.

Denis has been living with low vision all his life, but it has only been in his retirement years that he has been able to make time for his wood carving hobby. I did suggest to Denis that his pieces were certainly good enough to sell, but he didn’t really want to make such a big time commitment. Mostly his sculptures are for himself and for family – especially for his grandchildren.

Denis has clever hands and an eye for detail. It is this latter that truly amazes me. After all, Denis can’t really see the detail he is carving. For instance, in daily life Denis uses an electronic magnifier to see and read the local newspaper. While he might be able to “see” a person on the other side of the street, he is unable to identify who it might be. In spite of this, Denis is able to sculpt incredible detail into his wood carvings. Denis allowed me to touch his carvings and I could feel the detail. I was impressed.

Denis told me that Denis has made numerous items of furniture for their home – including tables and a six-piece dresser. Uniquely carved flower pots stand at the entrance of their garage and driveway. I was intrigued by two special piggy banks – a dinosaur and a truck, both with coin slots at the top and removable parts to retrieve the coins when full. Denis has also made a couple of special pieces that he intends donating for auction at his local church fund raiser.

I am including four pictures with this post. Of course, they don’t quite do justice to what you might see and feel in person.

Picture 1 shows Denis standing beside several of the trucks and cars in his collection. One of his favourite models is a precise replica of a 1958 Ford Fairlane convertible he made for his brother-in-law. 

Denis with his trucks and cars

 Picture 2 shows me standing beside Denis holding the dinosaur piggy bank. It is quite large – about thirty centimeters tall.

Sue holding dinosaur bank with Denis

 

Picture 3 shows one of Denis’s first winter retirement creations. It is a farm truck and trailer. Of course there are tiny animals inside the stock trailer. As Denis pointed out, he made it for his grandchildren and what is the point unless you can play with the animals inside as well.

 

More trucks

Picture 4 shows one of my favourite pieces. It is a nativity scene. Mary and Joseph are beside the cradle in the foreground and nine carved stars form an arch overhead. There is an added feature of a string of miniature lights threaded through some more tiny stars at the base. Denis and Denise say that they put this piece on their mantelpiece during the Christmas season. I am sure that it is totally unique.

 

Nativity scene

 Thanks, Denis for sharing your talent with us.

 

 

August 13 - Blind Spots

It is always quite difficult for me to explain my low vision. I imagine that it might be the same for other people who have limited sight. It is far easier to explain full sight or no sight at all, but low vision can be different with different eye conditions. For instance, some people have poor central vision and others have no peripheral vision. My own sight seems to be all over the place and I know that I have what I would call various “blind spots”.

These blind spots are more noticeable when I am looking straight ahead. Most times I am so used to this phenomenon that I don’t really pay any attention to it. However, twice in the last few days I have come up short. The first time was in our driveway and the second time was on our local walking trail. Both times were a surprise.

The driveway incident had Lyle shaking his head with laughter. In the early morning I had put out several bags and boxes for a collection agency. Then I was back inside to shower, have breakfast and get ready for our morning walk. I was a bit rushed for time and Lyle went outside to wait in the car. As I raced out to meet him, looking ahead to the car, I crashed right into the boxes I had left there only a couple of hours previously. I had forgotten that they were there and simply didn’t see them again.

The second incident was on our usual walking trail. This is a trail that I walk along several times each week and so it is very familiar. However, on this particular day there was a crew working on the bridge underpass. My walking partner was very careful in directing my path through the roped off construction zone. It was only at the last minute that she realized that I was going to walk directly into the side mirror of one of the parked trucks. I stopped inches before smashing my face into the mirror. I simply don’t see what is right in front of me.

These blind spots are interesting when it comes to using a white cane. Obviously I wasn’t using my cane in my driveway, but the cane just isn’t helpful when it comes to detecting objects at the height of shoulder or face level. The mirror of the construction truck was a one off incident, but I have also come into contact with side mirrors when vehicles are parked too close to or even on the curb.

I also find it especially annoying when people allow branches from the trees in their yards to hang out over the sidewalks. Pedestrians with sight can merely duck their heads or walk out onto the road. I tend to walk right into the offending branch. Sidewalk obstacles can definitely create hazards for pedestrians with limited sight.

My blind spots can be frustrating and annoying, but for the most part I am grateful for the sight that I have. I am also grateful when other people make concessions for those of us who do have limited sight and who try to ensure that our pathways are clear of potential hazards.