For some time two of our members, Chris and Norman, have attended art courses for the visually impaired run by Wendy Daws, a local artist, in conjunction with Kent Association for the Blind. Earlier in the year, Rochester Cathedral joined a project which was, again, led by Wendy. (Writes Brian M)

  She took her Art Club members to the Cathedral and asked them to identify some feature to inspire artwork. Ideas were considered, some initial work developed, before they met again in the late summer, to bring the works to completion. In Chris and Norman’s case, the interim had seen the construction of a hinged frame, as the end product would completely fill the wall of an average room!

  September and early October saw feverish activity to meet the deadline, not helped by both our bowlers going off on the group holiday to the Isle of Wight. Wendy enlisted the aid of many of her local artist friends to give advice and help, and for several weeks the room on the first floor at the Visitors’ Centre, in Rochester, was a hive of creative energy. There literally was a buzz of activity that was a joy to experience. And they all helped Wendy to move the exhibits across to the Cathedral, where they may now be seen, until the end of November (extended) – admission free.

  Chris and Norman both worked on the framework of their magnum opus before Chris developed the central feature of organ pipes, a joyful expression of his great love of music. Norman had meanwhile moved on to prepare a stylised ground plan of the Cathedral, reflecting his own career and passion for draughtsmanship.

  Brian had been drawn in by their talk of the project, as he had worked in the Cathedral 45 to 50 years ago with his father who had the contract to do the Cathedral’s electrical works. Wendy persuaded him to prepare an exhibit and, with much help from Sandra, chose a mediaeval torch as a symbol of light and power.

  All these, the other course participants’ work, plus some exhibits by Wendy and friends are now on show.

   (As an added bonus, there are also on show some items of work produced by Chris, Norman, Brian and Hans when they took part in May and June in ‘Element’, which focussed on creativity through the mode of Opera, writing and music. This already features on the website in an article, Operation Opera, written by Hans at the time.)

  Norman's contribution to the exhibition, 'Plan', is based on the architectural design of the cathedral.

  Brian, whose creation is titled 'Torch Legend', has worked with the group as RBBG volunteer captain, with full sight.

  Chris has a keen interest in church organs, having played the instrument for several years. His love of organs inspired this work, 'Visions'.