[Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] [accessibleimage] Seattle Braille artist

[Lisa Yayla]

Hi,
Another question about art.
In the article about Spike Mafford  it says

"initially struggled with the taboo against touching art, 
Mafford gradually accepted that he would have to break his rule to make 
the work accessible to new audiences"

was thinking that here might be a sign that touching art will become the  norm for all.Maybe in the near future in every gallery it will be the norm that art is touched. Or it will be a requirement that galleries have the technology that lets the visitor touch the work. 

Wouldn't this be a momentous affect? 
Regards,
Lisa


accessibleimage at freelists.org wrote:
> Jul. 20, 2006
> In touch with art: Harborview hosts work of Seattle Braille artist
>
> By Peggy Weis
> Harborview Art Program Manager
>
> As part of the Harborview art program's series of temporary public art 
> exhibitions, photographs from Seattle artist Spike Mafford's "Braille 
> Portfolio" are currently on view in the medical center's Ground West 
> Lobby, cafeteria, and the foyer of the Research & Training Building. In 
> a departure from conventional digital photography, Mafford applies text 
> in the form of Braille (clear, raised plastic dots) to the surface of 
> each image. This text provides poetic interpretations of the scenes 
> depicted, so that the photographs can be understood and appreciated by 
> individuals with reduced or impaired vision, as well as by the fully 
> sighted.
>
> Even though he initially struggled with the taboo against touching art, 
> Mafford gradually accepted that he would have to break his rule to make 
> the work accessible to new audiences. Now he encourages people to touch 
> and welcomes the physical changes that result when fingers move over 
> the photographs. "I like the idea of people reaching out to touch the 
> image; in a sense, I am reaching out to touch the viewer, and I like 
> the idea of that reach returning."
>
> Mafford's work will remain on display at Harborview throughout the 
> summer. For more information about the artist or his work, contact 
> Peggy Weiss, Harborview art program manager, at pweiss at u.washington.edu.
>
> http://uwnews.org/uweek/uweekarticle.asp?articleID=25619
>
>
>
> --
>
>
>
>
>
>