Art event hosted in Mbombela supports the visually impaired
An intimate art event hosted in Mbombela celebrated women with visual impairments during Women's Month.
New definition was given to the term ‘blind creativity’ at BemBom, The Grove, on Women’s Day.
The event, Bubbly Breakfast for Besties, in celebration of blind women in Woman’s Month, focused on the creative side of the blind, relying on their well-developed sense of touch and interpreting shapes and textures.
Under the artistic guidance of Wendy Sippel, a well-known local artist, the gathering of ladies included three blind women from the Mpumalanga Blind Skills Development Hub (MBSDH), each creating their own ink and salt artwork.
Sippel’s favourite media are pen, ink and watercolour, but she has an experimental spirit and is never afraid to try new methods and approaches. She draws her artistic inspiration from the natural world and sees much of her penwork as a form of meditative practice – a way of coming to grips and communing with the beautiful natural forms and shapes she encounters.
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BemBom offered its premises as venue, while Sherley Richards, a local singer and karaoke host, provided the entertainment.
Zandré Pelser, the owner and special needs events facilitator of Sibinjala, said the aim of the event was again to show the Lowveld that blind, or rather visually impaired, individuals are capable of things that seeing people think they are not.
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Pelser said the thing that stood out most for her throughout the day was the patience and lovely atmosphere. Sippel has a way of working with an individual and seeing and interpreting art in a way the everyday eye might miss. Pelser said this really added a special touch to the gathering.
Other than awareness for the visually impaired’s skills, the event also provided a platform for further awareness of the role the MBSDH plays in preparing its students to function independently in society, said Pelser.
The event also served as a fundraiser for necessities required by the training hub.
Should you like to get involved in special needs events, contact Pelser on 084 891 0000.
Pelser expressed her sincere gratitude towards Sippel, Richards and everyone participating to make the faces of their dedicated women bloom in Woman’s Month.
