Women create a free exhibition of drawings and photography to portray some of the most vulnerable people in modern society. Jaine Blackman reports

Photographic artist Judie Waldmann knows people can sometimes be quick to jump to the wrong conclusions.

“We often make judgements about different people following short-term encounters that are completely unfair,” she says.

“We also find it hard to relate to people who are emotionally and mentally vulnerable.”

It’s something she’s done herself in the past – but one encounter changed all that. “It happened a few years ago when I was doing photographic work in a specialist unit that supports individuals with emotional difficulties,” says Judie, who lives in North Oxford. “I noticed one individual who was completely closed, showing little communication or emotion.

“Gradually and very slowly over months of the staff’s extraordinary care, encouragement and time, he began to blossom. His whole personality seemed to change.

“I was aware of how mistaken I had been to have made any judgements about him.”

That encounter has now led Judie to put on a joint exhibition with artist and cellist Claire Christie Sadler, also from North Oxford.

About 65 images – photographs and drawings – feature in the free exhibition Within Reach at the North Wall Gallery in South Parade, Summertown, which runs from 10am to 4pm except Sundays until February 28.

“The individual I mentioned appeared totally out of reach at one stage, and then within reach and very connected later,” says Judie, explaining the title. “I wanted to find a way to reflect this experience.”

Judie wrote a poem which crystallised her thoughts and she and Claire, who met when they were studying foundation art and fine art degrees together from 1998 to 2004, began to discuss the possibility of creating a project together. Judie says the exhibition is “not just pretty pictures, but an expression of the feelings, experiences and perceptions of individuals who find themselves in a very vulnerable state. Mental health has become a more talked about issue, but if we can change continuing negative perceptions, so much the better.”

Oxfordshire Mind and Restore have been invited to advertise their work at the exhibition. “So that people who view the images and maybe find connections and concerns, know there are places in Oxford to turn to,” says Judie.

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