Currently running at Anderson Creative, next to our own Buzzbin Art and Record Shop, is an exhibit entitled Blind/Sighted: The Perceptions Project that is definitely worth a look. Local painter Marti Jones Dixon and filmmaker Andrew Rudd took on a daunting challenge. It all started with 9 Canton residents – men and women, Black and White, young and old, from all walks of life, economic brackets and ethnic backgrounds. Each of these folks agreed to be interviewed for one hour, answering questions about how they perceive themselves and how they believe other people perceive them. They then turned the audio transcripts of these interviews over to the artists. Dixon, working only from the sounds of the subjects’ voices and their answers, attempted to paint nine portraits of these people – based on her perceptions of who they are – completely blind. Rudd, also working only from transcripts, storyboarded and mapped out a mini-documentary of each person’s life – based on his perceptions of who they are – a plan that changed radically in the three hours he allowed himself to meet them face-to-face and film their story. The result? A fascinating exploration of the way that we think about and present ourselves – and the ways in which this conditions the ways that others think of us. Buzzbin Magazine briefly caught up with Rudd to talk about the experience. “Craig Joseph, curator at Anderson Creative Gallery, pitched a version of this show to me about a year and a half ago.” Rudd explained. “It seemed big, outrageous and really interesting.” Rudd said Joesph is always looking for ways to pair local artists in ways that will challenge them and their work while also making some comment on the human condition. “It was a really gratifying experience at every stage of the project. The opportunity to spend so much time with such interesting and generous people was good enough,” Rudd said. “But to be doing it with the express aim of finding something real, true and storied about their everyday life – that felt like a perfect match with the kind of work I want my life to be about.” If you caught a glimpse of the exhibit at this month’s First Friday festivities, you know that it is something special. The staff at Buzzbin Magazine was thoroughly intrigued by what we saw and recommend you give it a look as well. Anderson Creative is located at 331 Cleveland Ave. NW in Canton. Normal business hours are Wednesday to Saturday from 12PM to 5PM. Blind/Sighted: The Perceptions Project runs through Oct. 29. You can also check out more of Rudd’s work at reelate.org.