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Through photography, blind artist shares her vision
Parks is a professional photographer who is legally blind. With her special contact lenses, she can only see things clearly up to about 10 feet away. Things beyond that are a mixture of light, color, shape, texture and pattern. She had no conscious interest in or knowledge of photography until she was 24 years old when - after being suicidal for nearly a year - she voluntarily checked herself into the hospital for clinical depression. After she was released from the hospital, she picked up photography as a therapeutic hobby.
"People may think a professional photographer who has a severe visual impairment may be at a disadvantage, but it's what actually creates the unique style of my work," says Parks. "I have to work to interpret what I'm seeing by getting extremely close to things because to me most things are just a mixture of light, color and shape." On her website, www.miracleimages.com, Parks explains that "by taking time to investigate the many colors and shapes that don't seem to make sense at first, I often discover fascinating and beautiful details others don't see. Many of my most unique photographs are created by taking something ordinary, such as a shaft of light, a textured shadow, an iridescent glass bead, and forcing others to see it in a completely new way through my use of lighting, color and composition. My visual impairment literally gives me a unique perspective of the world and photography allows me to share that perspective." Parks also travels the lecture circuit, speaking to groups of all ages about her photography and about barriers that disabled people face in their daily life. Her gallery of images includes a section in stark black and white, picturing physical barriers to people with disabilities, such as narrow parking spaces, uneven wheelchair ramps, steps, branches, hydrants and other impediments to those using crutches or wheelchairs, the hearing impaired, and the blind. "The point of the exhibit is to literally show the general public that the same barriers that are inconvenient - and sometimes dangerous - to people with disabilities are very often also inconvenient and dangerous to people who have no disability," says Parks. Parks is also a part-time student at Columbus State, taking classes with plans to enroll in the nursing program. The "Perspectives" exhibit is free and open to the public, in the Educational Resource Center, Columbus Hall, on the Columbus State Community College campus, 550 East Spring Street. Hours are Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. |
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Traci Parks is the definition of a paradox--a blind photographer. The Columbus resident and part-time Columbus State student has seen her work published and exhibited nationally and internationally and is featured with 17 other artists with disabilities in an exhibit, "Perspectives: Shared Visions of Artists with Disabilities," at Columbus State Community College's Educational Resource Center Gallery through October 28. 
Her work has been widely exhibited at venues such as the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum, the Art and Soul International Arts Festival, and the National Press Club.