Two new exhibitions at the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum will showcase the achievements of people who are blind or have low vision.
Yarra Ranges Mayor Jim Child said the exhibitions look at how Australians with eye conditions learn, work, play sport, and carry out everyday tasks.
‘Living in a sensory world: stories from people with blindness and low vision’ and ‘Through the looking glass: the photography of Andrew Follows’ will be on display from February 23 to April 14.
“The Museum is fully accessible and prides itself in promoting different content for different audiences and this is one example,” Cr Child said.
Visitors can check out a braille Playboy magazine, a talking ski bum bag and the ball bowled in the first blind cricket played in Melbourne nearly 100 years ago.
‘Living in a sensory world’ features 100 objects, including items from Vision Australia’s heritage collection and Museum Victoria’s Royal Institute for the Blind collection.
With objects, interactive displays and multimedia, the exhibition explores a world that relies on sound, touch and smell.
“The significant challenges faced by people who are blind or have low vision have inspired a history of incredible innovation that has changed the lives of those affected,” Rebecca Hudson, Team Manager, Vision Australia, Kooyong said.
‘Through the looking glass: the photography of Andrew Follows’ features 18 pieces from vision impaired Eltham photographer Andrew Follows.
Andrew, who suffers from Retinitis Pigmentosa, is legally blind and relies on his dog guide Eamon to help him get around safely.
“Capturing something that my sight is unable to see is truly a wonder,” Andrew said.
He said he hoped to bring acceptance to the visual arts community of vision impaired and blind photographers’ perceptions and interpretations of the world.
Yarra Ranges Regional Museum is at 35-37 Castella St, Lilydale and is open daily from 10am until 4pm. It is closed public holidays. Admission to the Museum is free.
‘Living in a sensory world: stories from people with blindness and low vision’ was developed by Vision Australia in partnership with the Powerhouse Museum. It is supported by Visions of Australia, an Australian Government program.Download the Living in a Sensory World, Yarra Ranges Regional Museum media release