[Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] bits and pieces

[Lisa Yayla]

Bits and pieces

Sometimes I come over things that aren't directly related to accessible 
graphics but seem connected or am unsure. One is a picture that is being 
sold by IKEA that is also tactual. It is called Hallaryd and is 
advertised as having a "3d surface that can be both felt and seen" 
(translated from the Norwegian). It is an abstract picture made up of 
circles. If it is IKEA making a conscious effort to also sell art for 
the visually impaired well that is very interesting and wonderful. If 
not but just producing pictures, without thinking of the buyer,  but 
which also invite the tactual sense is also wonderful.
The other was while reading Jonathan Strange and Mr.Norell by Susanna 
Clarke (sort of like Harry Potter meets Vanity Fair) I came across this  
"...knew by a curious twist of their senses, as if they had tasted a 
string quartet, or been for a moment, deafened by the sight of the color 
blue." Seemed like a description of synesthesia.

I heard the other day a saying about the life of an idea that is at 
first a new idea is ridiculed, then next it is attached, and finally 
accepted and thought by everyone to be self-evident. So with the 
cropping up of tactile art in IKEA one would wonder and hope that art 
for the blind has become self evident.  That is if one can assume that 
popular culture is a type of acceptance or what do you think?


Regards,
Lisa

Hallaryd
http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15573&catalogId=10103&storeId=16&langId=-14&parentCats=null&news=1&categoryId=15573&productId=68955