ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS

Vision disease doesn't stow Harris from her art

2007

By LYNDSEY TETER

Upper Arlington News Reporter

Sally Harris' art is in the detail she can't see.

A tree with a single leaf that has turned brown. A mountain lake in full of tiny brush strokes of moonlight.

"Your eyes take in mil­lions of pieces of informa­tion every second," said the 58-year-old Upper Arlington resident.

"And you take them for granted."

From the age of 17, Harris has suffered from macular degeneration. Her central vi­sion, where most of the de­tails are captured by the human eye, has completely deteriorated.

She cannot see straight ahead, but has trained her brain to make the most out of, limited peripheral vision. But the disease hasn't stopped her from painting.

Her work in watercolor and acrylics is currently on display at the Riverside United Methodist Church, 2701 Zollinger Road, through March 3.

With no formal art train­ing or education, Harris picked up her first paint­brush in 1992.

"I found this amazing community of artists, and they were all so wonderfully weird," she said.

"And I thought 'I fit final­ly in.'"

For almost 10 years, Harris exhibited her work throughout Columbus and in national shows.

"I did not expect my work to be accepted, let alone sought after," she said.

In 2000, Harris gave up her craft to pursue Share the Vision, an organization to support older adults who are losing their vision.

The group still meets at the UA Senior Center, Harris said.

"I am able to share what I've learned in more than 40 years," she said.

"My body has adapted in the way it takes in informa­tion. For many older adults, they are just learning these techniques."

She hopes to expand the group's reach while she con­tinues with her art. But the artistic itch has found her .again.

"It's therapeutic for me," she said, of picking up the brush again.

The second time around, Harris hopes to keep her work in the church as a testa­ment to her faith.

"People often ask me how I do it," she said of her collection of detailed landscapes.

"And my answer has never changed. I have a guardian angel who guides my hand."

She's seen her share of skeptics, but hopes a church environment will be more accepting of her belief.

"This is where my work belongs," she said. "It is inspired from God.

"Look what your God has given you. Look at the beau­ty, around you. You are missing it." 

News photo by Cassandra Bergman

Sally Harris sits with her dog Zenith next to one of her paint­ings on display at Riverside United Methodist Church.

Harris' exhibit can be worshiped on Sunday morning from  9 a.m. until 4 p.m. viewed Monday through Fri- at 8:45 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. services, Harris said, all are welcome to join during the day as at Riverside united she will be on hand to answer Guests questions.

-Methodist Church.