Chasing Words: Grahame Lynch at TEDxRyersonU

Grahame Lynch's latest exhibit,"The Logic of Subduction," includes a library of books, which must be viewed through an assistive lens. In this way, viewers at the Durham Art Gallery exhibit experience the energy and effort those who live with differences must expend to perform everyday tasks. Grahame, Ryerson University associate fashion professor and fashion communications program director, lives with low vision. He loves to read, but his condition makes it difficult to focus on objects and to perceive depth. Words dance around on the page of a book he reads. As his eyes tire, the page begins to move and fold in on itself. "The Logic of Subduction" refers to a plate in the earth's crust being forced under another plate. Grahame's vision is gradually deteriorating - there is the risk he will someday go blind. He is constantly preparing for that catastrophe, like we do for earthquakes as plates we can't perceive shift beneath us. His talk focuses on the ways that inclusive art can communicate a person's experience and by doing so, encourage empathy in its audience. Grahame encourages those who live with low vision, blindness and those who live differently to tell their stories in a way only they can.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)