[Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] Article: 'A Touch of Art' Reaches to Community

[Shelley L. Rhodes]

Colorado State Collegian
Thursday, April 28, 2005

'A Touch of Art' Reaches to Community

By Julie Abiecunas

Imagine being blind and going to an art museum, unable to experience the 
beautiful works of art and feeling left out from the artistic experience.

This year's second annual "A Touch of Art" exhibit strives to correct that 
problem by putting on an exhibit specifically for the blind community, where 
artwork can be both touched and explained by the artist.

Peter Jacobs, a professor in the art department, started the exhibit after a 
student's legally blind mother, Linda Benefiel, expressed a desire for the 
exhibit. Benefiel attended a field trip to the Denver Art Museum with her 
daughter's class, where she was given the rare opportunity to go behind the 
ropes and touch some masks that were on display.

Once back at school, Jacobs allowed Benefiel to feel some of the masks his 
own class had been working on. Benefiel loved the experience of getting to 
touch the artwork and was so enthusiastic about it, she wanted to find a way 
to share it with others.

"I just kept thinking, 'I wish this was available for everyone,'" Benefiel 
said.

The next year, Benefiel urged Jacobs to share his students' artwork with the 
blind community, and thus, "A Touch of Art" was born.

Benefiel feels that providing "A Touch of Art" to the blind community is a 
priceless experience, as nothing can compare to being able to feel the art 
firsthand.

"Usually we're just told how a piece of artwork looks, which is hard because 
everyone describes things differently, and you might not always get the best 
descriptions," Benefiel said.

Jacobs' teacher's assistant, Robin Bourdelon, a post-graduate art education 
major, agreed and is glad to have been able to help provide this exhibit to 
the community because getting artwork to the masses for enjoyment can 
sometimes be a difficult task.

"We're always 'preaching' about the benefits of art, but a lot of times 
that's easier said than done," Bourdelon said. "It's cool to see that 
actualized in this project."

The bulk of the exhibits in this year's show will be wooden masks, created 
by Jacobs Foundations of Sculpture class. Junior graphic design major Matt 
Fetcher said his mask for this year's exhibit is made from maple wood with 
horse tail accents, a piece that will surely provide plenty of texture 
variation to the touch.

While this year's show may only include masks, it is Benefiel's dream to one 
day have other classes include their sculptures and paintings in the show.

Jacobs is also interested in expanding the show and is glad the art 
department is able to put on such a positive exhibit.

"It's really nice we can provide an experience like this. So much of art is 
stereo-typed as being only visual," Jacobs said.

Ledlie Mosch, a senior art history major who has worked as Jacobs' teaching 
assistant, was not surprised he is putting on this type of exhibit.

"He's definitely a father figure. He's always very approachable and likes to 
get involved and be interactive with his students. I think it's really great 
what he's doing with this project for the community," Mosch said.

While the exhibit's main purpose is to provide an art experience for the 
blind community, Jacobs also feels his students benefit.

"I think the students get just as much out of helping with this exhibit as 
do the people who see it," Jacobs said.

"A Touch of Art" will run from 4 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday in the art department. 
Student artists will be available to help people through the exhibit and 
provide descriptions of the pieces.


http://www.collegian.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/04/28/427095ad0fd90




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