Opendoor Day Centre's Photography Group
The Photography Group at Threshold Support's Opendoor Day Centre in Bermondsey have been exhibiting their work at the Cafe Gallery in Southwark Park.The day centre provides services for people who live with mental health problems. The Group started in August 2006 when several day centre members realised they shared an interest in photography. They used their own photographic equipment, going out every two weeks to take photographs at various places in London. Their work was stored on a computer at the day centre and they put on displays in the building
The Group have always encouraged other members to join in, even if they have no experience or are wary of new digital technology, and support each other to travel by public transport and take photos in the open. This has resulted in some beautiful work across a range of styles, including landscapes, night shots, portraits and abstracts.
This summer, group members Iris, Vaughan, David and Mary applied successfully for a grant from Southwark Alliance, the local strategic partnership of Southwark Council and local agencies who work for neighbourhood renewal. The Group bought a new camera, camcorder and printer; one of the day centre's PCs is now dedicated to the use of the group. They also planned the exhibition, liaised with gallery staff and printed and framed their own work.
All these activities culminated in the exhibition where over 60 works by various photographers were displayed, which ran for a week and was well-attended and appreciated, as the comments in the Visitors Book show.
Examples of the Group's work can be seen at their website, which also allows visitors to order prints.
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