The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) has partnered up with eSight by Gentex Corporation to ensure that people who have low vision are able to access art at the 2025 Florida Prize in Contemporary Art Exhibition. This new initiative came to life due to a story regarding one of the artists highlighted in this year’s exhibition.
Florida-based artist Kelly Joy Ladd experienced an injury in March 2020, which caused her to face difficulties with daily activities such as computer work, reading, and watching TV. As a result, she had to consider new methods in relation to her art. After an incident with the museum, where Ladd’s condition did not allow her to view and appreciate the artwork, OMA and Gentex Corporation collaborated to develop assistive technology for people with low vision.
Jamie Barendsen, the marketing manager at Gentex Corporation, stated that, “eSight Go was created to help people with central vision loss experience the aspects of life they have lost due to their visual impairment. When we heard Kelly Joy Ladd’s story of her vision challenges and her use of art to tell her story, we knew we wanted to be a part of it. We are honored to make art more accessible for people with low vision through sharing eSight Go and enabling them to experience art in a whole new way.”
This exhibition will enable visitors with low vision to experience art through new lens, which highlights the thoughtful connection between technology and the person.
For more information, please read Vision Monday’s article on the eSight device.