When words are not enough

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/02/2018 (3019 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sunshine House patrons told their stories through a photo exhibit held at the Goodwill Social Club on Sun., Feb. 11.

Memor-Eyes is a project facilitated by local storyteller Leigh-Anne Kehler who was matched with Sunshine House through the Winnipeg Arts Council WITH ART community public art program. After a few months getting to know each other, Kehler and the participants came up with a way to tell their stories and share their memories through a photo narrative.

WITH ART matches professional artists with community groups to create opportunities for collaborative art projects. The WAC said the program is based on the idea that with art, communities can explore issues, ideas, and concerns, voice community identity, express the historical and cultural spirit and create dialogue.

“Photos seem to be a way to capture ideas about Winnipeg settings where words might not be enough,” Kehler explained.

The group chose Alexander Docks, Green Hill (also known as Garbage Hill) and St. John’s Park to express how these places were relevant in their lives. The project focused on the participants’ memories of each location.

“We chose those locations because those are places you can go and be yourself. You’re not going to be bothered or judged,” Kehler said.

The photos were accompanied by written descriptions of their memories. To go along with the photo boards, they have three suitcases — one for each location — in which they built mini-dioramas of the three settings and used some of the photos to put them inside the diorama. The images have been turned into a digital storybook short film that was shown at the event along with a behind-the-scenes documentary and docu-short of a recent JD and the Sunshine Band Winnipeg city tour. 

“For myself, as usually someone who communicates with my audience through language, although I do work in film…it was a unique opportunity to stretch my idea of what is narrative and how to represent a story,” Kehler said.

Gilbert Spence, one of the 15 participants, said he enjoyed taking pictures at the different locations and was excited about the exhibit.

“The gatherings were excellent,” he said. “I love photography, and this was an opportunity for me to do it again.”

Another participant, Aileen Fawcett, took lots of pictures at St. John’s Park and had people take photos of her, which is something that doesn’t happen very often.

“I’m kind of embarrassed about taking pictures (of myself), but everybody told me I looked good in it,” she said, with a smile. “I was happy about it. I got to meet more people than I did and it was enjoyable.”

Some of the photos are not in the project and were handed out to the participants.

“Now I have a lot of pictures of my friends,” Fawcett added. “I’m grateful for the good friends I have.”

Kehler had the opportunity to develop more than just artistic skill.

“As an individual, never mind as an artist, it was a great opportunity to grow and to meet people that ordinarily, I wouldn’t have the chance to form bonds with,” she said.