September 23, 2022 (Tampa, FL) – The Carrollwood Cultural Center, located at 4537 Lowell Road, will host a free light painting workshop on October 8 from 3 to 5 p.m. with members of the New York-based group, The Seeing With Photography Collective.
The Seeing With Photography Collective is a collaboration between visually impaired and sighted photographers. The Collective’s work has been exhibited worldwide and featured in the book Shooting Blind published by Aperture.
In this hands-on workshop, participants ages 16 and older will work with two members of the Collective to create photos using the Collective’s distinctive light painting technique. The images, created in the dark using a long exposure and small flashlights to illuminate the people being photographed, capture an entirely new way of seeing. Participants will work in small groups to conceive, stage, and create their own light painting photographs. Participants will receive their newly created digital photos via email after the workshop.
Registration is required as space is limited to 20 participants. To register, visit carrollwoodcenter.org or call (813) 922-8167.
The workshop is part of the Center’s larger programming initiative for Blind Awareness Month in October. The Collective will also participate in a concert titled Blind Visionaries at 8 p.m. on October 8. Blind Visionaries is a live concert featuring original Daniel Kelly compositions inspired by light photography created by the blind and visually impaired members of The Collective. The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay is funding the workshop and concert.
Other planned activities include a touch-sensitive gallery exhibition titled Beyond Sight from September 28 through October 29 and a free lecture called The Art of [Braille] with visually impaired musician Matt Weihmueller on October 6 at 7 p.m. The AARP Community Challenge grant is funding the exhibition and lecture.
According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Florida has the second-largest blind and low vision population in the U.S., representing 2.5% of Florida’s total population, or 537,500 Floridians. However, only seven theatrical companies in Florida offer audio-described performances. Furthermore, only one of those facilities is in the Tampa Bay area.
The Carrollwood Cultural Center is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization with a mission of creating culture through community and community through culture.
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The Carrollwood Cultural Center is a partnership between Hillsborough County and the Friends of the Carrollwood Cultural Center. The mission of the Friends of the Center is to create culture through community and community through culture. The Friends of the Carrollwood Cultural Center, a 501(c)3 organization. For more information, visit the Center website at www.carrollwoodcenter.org.