Summary |
NEW Gallery Special Event |
|---|---|
Start Date |
26th Nov 2012 |
End Date |
13th Dec 2012 |
Venue |
NEW Gallery, Newnham Campus |
Guest opening speakers: David Pearce (OAM) & Barb Olsen (David Helfgott Awakenings Award) with a Symposium on History of Orthopaedic Footwear by John Semmens
Exhibition opening: 5.30 - 7pm Thursday 29 November 2012
Exhibition curator: Dr Jane Deeth
Exhibition dates: 26 November - 13 December 2012
This exhibition looks at orthopaedic footwear from beyond a functional perspective.
At the very heart of the show are the people who wear such footwear – their thoughts, feelings and opinions/footprints.
We all make choices about what we wear based on who we are, what we like, what is fashionable at the moment, what we look good in and what we might be doing – sensible shoes for walking or killer heels to show off on a night out.
Shoemakers, podiatrists and others who work in orthopaedics try to make or fit shoes that help wearers regain or increase their mobility, and make them more comfortable.
In contrast, over recent decades designers and manufacturers have made shoes for able-bodied wearers that create an uncanny orthopaedic ‘look’.
Ironically anyone with foot problems could never wear these shoes.
But does having a problem that requires special footwear mean shoes need to be boring?
EXHIBITION SPONSORS
image credits: 'Super Elevated Ghillie' shoes designed by Vivienne Westwood (1998), traditional Orthopaedic Shoe andAlice in Wonderland Fantasy Sculpture Shoe designed by James Newton (2011)