Tulip art explores Parkinsons

By Kate Watson - The Weekly News
When photographer Cathy McKel-vey looks at tulips, she sees more than glorious spring flowers; she sees a metaphor for people - unique and fragile.
Her latest exhibit Hope, running from March 4 to 29 at the Craig Gallery in Alderney Landing, is a series of photographs of tulips that explores the devastating impact of Parkinson's disease. Using various photographic effects, she tells a kind of story of how the disease progresses.
"In some of the photos, the flowers represent people who don't know they have the disease, yet. Others, I've shot through glass and water.
"It blurs things until it becomes almost abstract, hinting at both the freezing of physical motion and the shakiness that people with the disease experience in the later stages," explains McKelvey.
McKelvey says her family has been touched by Parkinson's, and that she sees this exhibit as one way to raise awareness of the disease. All the proceeds from the event are going to the Parkinson's Society Maritime Chapter.
"I called the show Hope because people need to know that there's progress being made in the fight against Parkinson's," she says. "I've intentionally tried to express the idea of hope in my photographs through the quality of colour and light."
McKelvey has also organized talks and workshops as part of the event.
She is offering a photography workshop for beginners on March 7. Students will be covering topics such as light, looking and editing. Participants need to register for this event and bring their own camera. Their work will be printed and displayed in the Craig Gallery.
Kerrie Schoffer, a doctor with the Dalhousie Movement Disorder Clinic will be giving a talk entitled "What's New in Parkinson's" on March 18 at 7 p.m. in the Alderney Landing market.
McKelvey is giving an artist's talk as part of Alderney Landing's 10th Anniversary Celebration. It will be held as part of lunchtime entertainment in the market on March 11 at 12:15 p.m.
"This exhibit has been several years in the making," says McKelvey. "I really see it as a win-win situation. It makes more people aware of the effects of Parkinson's and it gives me an opportunity to get valuable feedback on my work."
k-watson@ns.sympatico.ca
For more details about the events and how to register for the photography workshop go to www.cathymckelvey.com and click on information.