Exploring Vision with Andrew Leland and Rodney Evans

Join us for a Two-Night Event

Acclaimed author Andrew Leland and award-winning filmmaker Rodney Evans are coming to Bryn Mawr on February 1st and 2nd to discussed the lived experience, world, and life of the low vision and blind communities. 

On Thursday, February 1st at 6:30 in Bryn Mawr College's Great Hall, Andrew Leland will give a short reading from his memoir, The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight followed by a discussion on stage with Rodney Evans as they explore the themes that interlace both of their works. At the end of the discussion there will be time for audience to ask their questions as well as meet Andrew and Rodney and purchase the book.

Watch a recording of Andrew and Rodney's book reading and conversation here.

On Friday, February 2nd at 4pm in Bryn Mawr College's Old Library 110 lecture hall we will have a showing of Rodney Evan's film Vision Portraits followed by an opportunity for the audience to ask Rodney questions after the viewing.

To watch Vision Portraits:

• TriCo Community: Watch the Vision Portraits on Kanopy
• Guests: Watch Vision Portraits on the New Day Films website

Watch a recording of the introduction to the film screening and Rodney's Q&A session here.

CART captioning will be available for both event and the film showing will have Audio Description. A virtual option for participation will also be available and posted on this website. Please visit back for more details about the virtual option closer to the event.

You can find more details about this two-night event and Andrew and Rodney below.

Book Reading Registration   Film Screening Registration

About Andrew Leland

Andrew Leland is an editor, writer, audio producer, and teacher. He has written for the New York Times Magazine and the New Yorker and other publications about topics related to the blind and low vision communities, including an article about the use of Protactile in the DeafBlind community which won the 2023 Linguistic Journalism Award. His 2023 book, The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight chronicles his experience of living with retinitis pigmentosa as well as exploration of the history and culture blind and low vision world.

About Rodney Evans

Rodney Evans is a writer, director, and producer who is known for his film Brother to Brother, which won the Special Jury Prize in Drama at the Sundance Film Festival, The Happy Sad, Vision Portraits, and Portal among others. In his film, Vision Portraits, Rodney explores his own experience as a filmmaker with retinitis pigmentosa as well as that of other artists with visual impairments.  

Both nights are free and will have a virtual attendance option.

Please contact Grace Cipressi (gcipressi@brynmawr.edu or 610-526-5470) with any questions or accommodation requests.

With many thanks to our sponsors:
Bryn Mawr College Access Services, Bryn Mawr College's The Impact Center for Community, Equity, and Understanding, Bryn Mawr College's Career & Civic Engagement Center, Bryn Mawr College Film Studies Department, Bryn Mawr College Library & Information Technology Services, TriCo Disability Studies Collective and Haverford Access and Disability Services, Swarthmore Film & Media Studies Department, Swarthmore Office of ADA Program Manager, and Swarthmore College Libraries