Exclusive Renoir viewing for Disability Alliance
THROUGH the Eyes of a Master launched yesterday at Beau Sejour Leisure Centre with exclusive access to Guernsey Disability Alliance members.
Between 100 and 120 GDA members attended from 1pm, followed by a visit to the satellite exhibition at the Ron Short Centre displaying artwork made by members during lockdown.
One of Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s original Guernsey masterpieces was recently acquired by a group of investors in conjunction with the charitable initiative Art for Guernsey.
The original is displayed in the free exhibition, which shows how Renoir’s month-long stay in Guernsey permanently altered his artistic style.
Art for Guernsey co-curator David Ummels said a main goal is to allow islanders to connect with the work that was last in Guernsey 137 years ago.
‘We felt that we should create an opportunity for everybody to reconnect,’ he said.
‘Beau Sejour is the only fully disability-friendly venue on the island.
‘That is pretty poor and we should do better. If members feel they will struggle at a venue, they won’t go. It was the natural thing to do to open this up exclusively for members.’
Many GDA members were shielding during lockdown and are still reluctant to engage in public.
Some members struggle in crowded places and so are having private showings with just them, a family member and carer in the room, offering freedom to enjoy art without worry.
‘There are not many places you can say please close the exhibition for my son. Because of this, many people cannot access art or go to exhibitions.
‘We wanted to change this and so curated a second exhibition together to a professional standard so they are fully part of it.’
Satellite exhibition artists are part of a 20-minute film in which they express themselves and explain their art.
The Ron Short Centre will remain open as usual, with members creating artwork in the exhibition room.
AFG co-curator Jock Pettitt said: ‘We tried to make the layout as accessible as possible, with low text content for people in wheelchairs, and have lit it as well as we can.
‘We knew this space was a friendly place. It was easy for us to consider it as a natural canvas to reconnect. We also realised that most members would not have had any chance to go to Moulin Huet, so for many this is their first experience of it.’
