[Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] Living Paintings, film, artists, Perkins

[Lisa Yayla]

http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1545023/11062006/story.jhtml#/movies/news/articles/1545023/11062006/story.jhtml
2. "Proof" (1991)
In this Australian film, Hugo Weaving ("The Matrix") plays Martin, a 
blind photographer (!) with severe trust issues, who constantly takes 
Polaroid pictures as evidence of what he believes (or is led to believe) 
are his surroundings. Martin finds himself in the middle of a power 
struggle between his smitten, controlling housekeeper and his new best 
friend Andy (Russell Crowe). The movie (directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse) 
is a powerful look at how the lies that we all tell can sometimes be 
benevolent and can sometimes leave lifelong scars.

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650204457,00.html
excerpt
  Merrill Matzinger works out three times a week with a personal 
trainer. On the weekends he can be found in the foothills of Mount 
Olympus. He loves to play the flamenco guitar. And in his spare time, he 
paints.Matzinger is legally blind and recently turned 91.


http://www2.townonline.com/watertown/atGlance/view.bg?articleid=613759
   Perkins artists exhibit work at Arsenal Mall

    Artwork by students at Perkins School for the Blind will be 
integrated into the traditional holiday decorations at the Arsenal Mall, 
485 Arsenal St.

    Perkins Fine Arts Festival will kick off with an opening reception 
Thursday, Nov. 16, at 4 p.m., featuring musical performances by Perkins 
students and the first opportunity to view more than 50 works of art by 
students who are blind, deaf-blind or visually impaired. The public is 
invited to attend this free community event and to enjoy the art at 
their convenience between mid-November and early January.

    "We're delighted to share our students' creative talents with the 
community and shoppers at the Arsenal Mall," Perkins President Steven M. 
Rothstein said. "This festival provides a showcase for our students' 
artwork and celebrates the importance of arts for everyone, including 
people with disabilities."

    The Perkins Fine Arts Festival will include a wide variety of art 
created by students in the Lower School, Secondary Program and Deafblind 
Program. Banners featuring holiday-themed cards and quilts made by 
students will be hung from the rafters on the second floor of the mall 
above the main entrance. The exhibit will also include framed artwork 
such as screened prints, abstract paintings and collages as well as 
sculptures.

    "Arsenal Mall is honored to be hosting the Perkins School for the 
Blind's Fine Arts Festival," said Julie Beck, regional director of 
marketing for Simon Property Group. "This is a wonderful opportunity to 
showcase the achievements of the students from this special school. We 
are excited to have this artwork on display at the mall throughout the 
holiday season for the community to enjoy.


excerpt

http://www.sbsun.com/ci_4645676
Teacher keeps blind in touch
Ceramics excellent art medium for the sightless, says instructor
Article Launched:11/12/2006 12:00:00 AM PST
How does the color red feel? Is it warm to the touch?
What about bright blue?
If you are blind, what is color to you?
Perhaps the most perfect art medium for a sightless person is ceramics 
or sculpture because it is so tactile, reasons Amy Rosebure, a ceramics 
teacher at the Inland Empire Lighthouse for the Blind.
"I talk my students through their projects," Rosebure said. "I ask them 
what color they can see in their minds."
The ceramics classroom at the San Bernardino center is lined with tables 
and chairs, punctuated with color - clusters of paint jars and brushes. 
Vases, pots and figurines in different stages of completion clutter 
metal shelves.
At the doorway to the ceramics room, where works in progress are stored, 
a cascade of student-painted wind chimes marks the entry, tinkling out a 
warning to any sightless person going through. In a small connecting 
room is a potter's wheel and kiln.
"There are so many stories here," Rosebure said. "This is a melting pot 
of people, but we're all family. One of our students is in the hospital. 
The others call him from class to see if he's coming back. We have a 
totally blind student who is a retired pastor. He still teaches a  
weekly Bible class."
"One of my students feels where he has painted by where the paint is 
wet. He goes along and paints and feels, paints and feels.


http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200berkshireheadlines/tm_headline=weather-woman-penny-s-tapes-for-the-blind-go-down-a-storm&method=full&objectid=18177752&siteid=50102-name_page.html#story_continue
Weather woman Penny's tapes for the blind go down a storm
Nov 29 2006

BBC presenter Penny Tranter is helping blind and partially sighted 
children 'see' the rain, sun, wind and snow.

She has added her voice to a unique educational touch-and-sound pack and 
CD produced by the Kingsclere-based charity Living Paintings.
Her voice is heard on Images of Weather which is aimed at seven to 
11-year-olds.
The pack covers the different types of weather experienced in the UK and 
abroad including the seasons, the weather station in the Antarctic, a 
hurricane satellite picture, tornado, a lightning strike and a rainbow.
The weather scenes are carved in wood by an artist.
 
Production staff at Living Paintings then use those carvings to make 
raised plastic images known as thermoforms.

The children use their fingers to feel their way around the images 
guided by the CD/cassette audio description given by Penny.

Penny said: "This is a great way for blind and partially sighted 
youngsters to be able to learn about the weather.
"It's a subject we in the UK talk about all the time and this pack by 
Living Paintings will help the children experience the weather in a new 
way. I'm really pleased to be able to help."

Formore information see web-site www.livingpaintings.org or call 01635 
299771.