[Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] Conversations with the Visually Inspired exhibiton and Art through Touch

[Lisa Yayla]

Hi,
Link to an upcoming exhibition in Atlanta Georgia and link to the Art 
Through through organizations site. Including information of activities 
in England. A UCL Lecture Series - Touch and the Value of Object 
Handling, sounds very interesting.

Regards,

Lisa
http://vsaartsga.org/index/arts_for_all_gallery/exhibit/20070120142321?sec=2

about exhibition video and audio description
http://www.cviatlanta.org/BlindSight.shtml
BLIND / SIGHT: Conversations with the Visually Inspired
May 1, 2007 - June 22, 2007

Noted Atlanta Photographer Billy Howard creates stunning portraits of 
local residents, paired with poignant interviews relating their personal 
exeriences as people who live with visual impairments in a culture that 
stigmatizes disabilities of all sorts.

WHO:
Atlanta photographer Billy Howard, designer and illustrator Laurie 
Shock, VSA arts of Georgia and the Center for the Visually Impaired
WHAT:
BLIND/SIGHT: Conversations with the Visually Inspired is a unique 
photographic exhibition that tells the story of 12 people with vision 
loss through images and sound.
WHEN:
Exhibition dates: May 1 — June 22, 2007
Turner First Thursday Receptions: May 3 and June 7 from 5 - 8 p.m.
WHERE:
Arts for All Gallery at VSA arts of Georgia
57 Forsyth Street, NW, Atlanta GA 30303
404-221-1270, www.VSAartsGA.org

Based in Atlanta, Billy Howard is a commercial and documentary 
photographer and Laurie Shock is a book designer and illustrator. For 
BLIND/SIGHT: Conversations with the Visually Inspired, Howard has 
created a series of 12 portrait photographs showing individuals diverse 
in age, ethnic background and type of vision loss, rom low vision to 
total blindness. Shock created illustrations based on interviews with 
the subjects that emulate the actual vision of each person. The images 
may appear as if seen through thick fog, they may be completely dark, or 
they may be blurred images in which some portions are recognizable and 
others are not.

Using images and audio, Howard and Shock challenge common myths about 
blindness through the compelling personal stories of 12 people who 
possess inspiring vision of their own. Each set of images includes text 
and audio interviews with the person in the photo and an audio 
description of the images. In the interviews, subjects talk about their 
self-concepts, how they perceive the world visually and how the world 
perceives them.

"My goal for the exhibition," Howard says, "is to demystify blindness 
and visual disorders in a way that gives voice to the diversity of 
seeing. Blindness is not always darkness and darkness is not always lack 
of vision."

BLIND/SIGHT: Conversations with the Visually Inspired will premier at 
Arts for All Gallery at VSA arts of Georgia on May 1 and continues on 
view through June 22, 2007. Join us for public receptions on May 3rd and 
June 7th from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. both evenings. The receptions, which are 
part of Turner First Thursdays, are free and open to the public, and 
complimentary refreshments are offered. Arts for All Gallery, located in 
the Healey Building in Downtown Atlanta, is the city's only professional 
gallery devoted to high-quality exhibitions which feature the work of 
artists with disabilities and themes related to disability. Following 
the premier exhibition, the show will be installed permanently at the 
Center for the Visually Impaired.

The exhibition is supported by the City of Atlanta, Office of Cultural 
Affairs; the LUBO Fund; the Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation; Lynda 
and Ben Greer; and the Georgia Council for the Arts through the 
appropriations of the General Assembly, as administered by the Fulton 
County Arts Council, the GCA-designated Grassroots agency. Funding for 
the Fulton County Arts Council is provided by the Fulton County 
Commission under the guidance of the Fulton County Arts Council. In-kind 
support for the exhibition is provided by Jaehn Clare, Georgia Radio 
Reading Service, Professional Photo Resources, Shock Design, Showcase, 
Inc. and Toco Hill Picture Framing.

Arts for All Gallery is a program of VSA arts of Georgia, a nonprofit 
organization dedicated to providing access to the arts for people with 
disabilities and those with low income. VSA arts of Georgia is 
affiliated with VSA arts, an affiliate of The John F. Kennedy Center for 
Performing Arts, and an international nonprofit organization founded in 
1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, with the mission to create a 
society where all people with disabilities learn through, participate in 
and enjoy the arts.

The mission of the Center for the Visually Impaired is to offer 
comprehensive services to promote independence with dignity and the 
preservation of self worth for individuals of all ages who are blind or 
visually impaired.

http://www.art-through-touch.co.uk/
Art Through Touch Events

Art Through Touch News
Art Through Touch are visiting The Serpentine Gallery to experience the 
show In the darkest hour there may be light on Wednesday 24 January 
2007. See Art Talks and Touch Tours for more information about the show 
and trip details.

Other news
New Membership Fee: This has now been set at £10 per year. For more 
information about becoming a member of ATT please contact Adam Levy on 
email attouch97 at yahoo.co.uk
telephone 020 8675 2666 or mobile 07930 547 132.



Art Talks and Touch Tours
ART TALKS are given by professional artists and others involved in the 
art world who are commissioned to prepare and deliver accessible 
presentations of their work and ideas.

Art work and ideas are made accessible through discussion, description, 
the use of all sensory modes and the provision of information in 
alternative formats.

The main tenet of our approach as an organization is to promote 
inclusion in relation to art and to enable visually impaired people to 
fully participate in cultural life. Through our activities we recognise 
the mutual benefit to both sighted and visually impaired people together 
exploring art, ideas and our surroundings, sharing a range of varied and 
different perspective and perceptions.

Art Through Touch visit to The Serpentine Gallery In the darkest hour 
there may be light Wednesday 24 January 2007 11am - 5pm
Works from Damien Hirst's murderme collection Damien Hirst's 
groundbreaking and controversial work has made him one of the world's 
best-known living artists. See under Exhibitions for more info on the 
show. Cost £5 to non ATT members and Transportation costs tba.

Outline of the day:
-Time to independently explore the exhibition with an escort.
- Lunch.
-2 Hour artist lead workshop.
-Group Discussion

Lunch is not included and it is recommended to bring your own - although 
there will be an opportunity to buy during the lunch break. There are 
three options to travel to the exhibition:-

- Make your own way to the South Kensington underground station and meet 
the group together with an escort who can guide you to the gallery.
- Be met at your home address by an escort who will guide you all the 
way to the Serpentine.
- Be collected from home by a Community Transport minibus (this is 
dependent on the number of people attending who live within a specific 
area).

Unfortunately all travel options are dependent on the overall number of 
people who are able to attend. We will aim to confirm all these details 
with individual attendees.

If you have any queries, require any further information or would like 
to book a place on this visit please don't hesitate to contact Adam Levy 
on 07930 547 132 or email ATT on attouch97 at yahoo.co.uk Places are 
limited so early booking is advised!




Seminars
none this month




Opportunities
Art Workshop Sessions for visually impaired people
At Pocklington Resource Centre in collaboration with South Thames College.

Workshops aimed at all levels of experience of art making. Art workshop 
sessions provide an opportunity for students to work on their individual 
projects and ideas. Through this process, assisted by an experienced 
tutor, students will develop a deeper understanding of art and their own 
personal creative process.

Activities include modelling, carving, construction, mould making and 
casting, drawing and painting. Course planning and practice is viewed as 
student centred to take account of individual aims and objectives, 
confidence, motivation and specific requirements.

Confidence building through achievement at all stages of course work, 
aimed at unlocking and nurturing inherent creativity.

Monday: 1.30 - 3.30 & Tuesday 7.00pm - 9pm.
Course Fees: For a two hour session £20 per term (the year is divided 
into three terms).

For further information contact Pocklington Resource Centre. 1c Yukon 
Road, London, SW12 9PZ. Telephone: 020 8675 4246.



What's New on the Art Through Touch Website
The Recent Projects page has been completely redesigned this month, 
allowing us to show all recent ATT activities and some archive material 
as well which will constantly be updated.

We appreciate that people will be accessing this site using a variety of 
different browsers and hardware. As the Art Through Touch website aims 
to be accessible as possible we would be appreciate any feedback 
regarding access problems. Please contact us on website maintenance 
Thank you.



Non Art Through Touch Events

Gallery Talks and Workshops
UCL Lecture Series - Touch and the Value of Object Handling

A series of workshops funded by the AHRC and organised by UCL Museums & 
Collections

UCL Museums & Collections warmly invite you to a series of workshops 
Exploring touch and object handling in the context of museums. This 
series is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Please 
feel free to distribute these details as widely as possible. All are 
welcome.

To book a place and/or for further information contact Devorah Romanek
on email: d.romanek at ucl.ac.uk
Visit: www.ucl.ac.uk/museums/events

FUTURE WORKSHOPS IN THIS SERIES:

Workshop 4: Therapeutic approaches to touch: Object handling and 
Hospital patients
Friday 2 February 2007, Royal London Homeopathic Hospital.

Workshop 5: Knowledge transfer in object handling: with specific 
reference to isadvantaged or underrepresented groups.
Friday 2 March 2007, British Museum.

End of project conference: Touch and the value of object handling
Friday 4 May 2007, University College London.


Victoria and Albert Museum
Events for People with Disabilities, January to March 2007

Gallery talk for VIP Musical Instruments Gallery, Room 40a
Talk and handling session by James York, Gallery Curator
A unique opportunity to discover this little known but fabulous Gallery 
of musical instruments collected by the V&A for their design and 
decoration qualities.
Wednesday 17 January, 11:00-12:30

The Musical Instruments Gallery for PLD
Come see and touch some of the V&A's fabulous collection of musical 
instruments!
Wednesday 17 January, 14:00-15:30

Gallery talk for HI Islamic Middle East
Talk by Olivia Lowrey, interpreted in BSL The Jameel Gallery of Islamic 
Art shows treasures from the Middle East, including the famous Ardabil 
carpet from 16 th -Century Iran, one of the largest, finest and earliest 
dated carpets in existence.
Friday 19 January, 18:30-19:15

Audio Described Performance Chinese New Year at the V&A
Join us to celebrate the year of the Pig with performances of Chinese 
dance, music, martial arts and acrobats. Sunday 18 February (time tbc) 
TICKET ONLY EVENT - Meet at the Meeting Point!

All day Drop In for VI Go Game Learn how to play Go, a highly 
challenging ancient Chinese strategy game which develops whole-brain 
thinking skills, creativity, and a culture of mutual respect.
Sunday 18 February

Raphael Gallery Performances for HI Chinese New Year at the V&A Join us 
to celebrate the year of the Pig with performances of Chinese dance, 
music, martial arts and acrobats. Narration in BSL. Sunday 18 February 
(time tbc) TICKET ONLY EVENT - Meet at the Meeting Point!

Go Game Learn how to play Go, a highly challenging ancient Chinese 
strategy game which develops whole-brain thinking skills, creativity, 
and a culture of mutual respect. Instructions in BSL.
Sunday 18 February

11:00-12:00, Raphael Gallery Chinese New Year at the V&A for PLD Join us 
to celebrate the year of the Pig with Chinese dance, music, martial arts 
and acrobats.
Sunday 18 February (time tbc) at the Meeting Point!

Exhibition talk for VI Kylie Talk by (tbc) Featuring costumes, 
accessories, photographs, sound and video, this exhibition will look at 
Kylie Minogue's career and changing image as a popular style icon and 
international performer.
Friday 23 March, 14:00-15:30

Exhibition talk for HI
Kylie Talk by (tbc) , interpreted in BSL. Featuring costumes, 
accessories, photographs, sound and video, this exhibition will look at 
Kylie Minogue's career and changing image as a popular style icon and 
international performer.
Friday 23 March, 18:30-19:15

Kylie for PLD Talk by (tbc) Kylie Minogue is one of the most famous and 
popular singer today: have a closer look at her costumes and accessories 
and see pictures and films of her touring around the world. Friday 23 
March, 11:00-12:00



Seminars and Conferences
none this month



Exhibitions
In the darkest hour there may be light
Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens

Works from Damien Hirst's murderme collection Damien Hirst's 
groundbreaking and controversial work has made him one of the world's 
best-known living artists.

 From the start of his career, Hirst has adopted the role of curator, 
organising a series of exhibitions with a group of young British artists 
who would come to define cutting-edge art in the 1990s. As well as being 
a producer and a curator, Hirst is also a passionate and obsessive 
collector of art.

Like many artists he began collecting by exchanging works with his 
friends - artists such as Tracey Emin, Angus Fairhurst and Sarah Lucas. 
In the darkest hour there may be light is the first public exhibition of 
the murderme collection and Hirst has worked closely with the Serpentine 
on the selection and presentation of the sculptures, paintings, 
photography and installations in and around the Gallery.

It offers a fascinating insight into Hirst's collecting acumen and 
personal interests, as he says "I always think collections are like a 
map of a man's life".



Performance
Extant Tasters
Extant is offering 4 one-off performance workshops from January 2007 for 
visually impaired people:

Flamenco – 17 January
Clowning – 24 January
Tap Dance – 31 January
Alexander Technique – 7 February

The workshops will be held from 10.30am-12.30pm at Paddington Arts, 9 
Woodfield Road London W9
(5 mins from Westbourne Park Tube on the Hammersmith and City line.)
The cost of these workshops will be £5 per session and will be collected 
on the day.

Places are limited so please contact Extant to book your place 
Extant1 at btinternet.com
Tel.07956 557 390

Also let us know whether you would like any access from the nearby tube 
station when you contact us with your booking.

Extant and the Workshop Content.
Extant is the only performing arts organisation for visually impaired 
people managed by visually impaired arts professionals.

Flamenco - This workshop will be led by Aidan Treays, choreographer on 
Extant’s touring production of Resistance 2005. In the workshop we will 
start by covering the basic technical elements of Flamenco, footwork, 
arms, posture and rhythm. We will then consolidate what we. Have learnt 
in a simple sequence, which will allow the participants to experience 
the passion, and exuberance that is Flamenco.

Clowning - Led by Mitch Mitchelson, teacher of clowning at City Lit 
London. In exploring our comedic sense through clowning and the Commedia 
dell"Arte! The workshop will explore physics of comedy with routines, 
clown numbers, slapstick, rhythm work, masks, comic character and the 
exploration of the absurd and the zany.

Tap Dance - Led by Carolene Hinds, teacher and performer with the Jiving 
Lindy Hoppers
authentic Jazz Dance Company. From Tap to Toe will explore the exciting 
sounds of rhythm,
Tap dance, using the body as percussion, and how the music makes you move.
Please wear comfortable loose clothing – tap shoes if you have them, but 
not essential.

Alexander Technique - led by Brita Forsstrom who has taught the 
Technique since 1984, and
Currently teaches it for Actors at the City Lit, trains teachers at The 
Alexander Technique Studio, consults in the workplace, and has worked 
with choirs (Sweden and Singapore).
This is a method of breathing, movement and posture awareness developed 
by an actor to improve performance ability. In this intensive Alexander 
Technique workshop we will look at ways
to free the actor in movement and voice. You will have the opportunity 
to experience one-to-one hands-on attention applied to your own 
performance situation. No need for special clothing, but as this is a 
practical workshop you are advised to wear comfortable loose clothing.

www.extant.org.uk



Opportunities

See yourself in Theatre management?
Fast Track, The Independent Theatre Council's professional development 
programme for disabled and deaf people is looking for applicants. Fast 
Track 2007 will offer 10 disabled and deaf people from across London the 
unique opportunity to gain experience and skills in performing arts 
management. The programme offers:

-A 15-week work placement with a professional performing arts organisation.
- A 3-day residential, preparatory training course.
- 9 further one-day practical training courses including finance, 
fundraising, marketing, contracts and negotiation.
- Training subsidy £2,250 and travel allowance.
- Mentoring and support throughout the programme.
- An opportunity to develop business and management skills related to 
working in the performing arts.
- Networking opportunities at a senior level in the performing arts sector.

Supported by the London Development Agency, and delivered in partnership 
with Shape, and SOLT/TMA, Fast Track is the first programme of its kind 
to really address the under-representation of deaf and disabled people 
in theatre management.

It will have an enormous impact on the employment prospects of deaf and 
disabled people in the performing arts, and truly bring about lasting 
change.Fast Track has been run very successfully by the Independent 
Theatre Council for black and minority ethnic participants since 1997. 
For many of the participants and graduates it has been a life-changing 
experience. Approximately one hundred people have been through the scheme.

Fast Track has provided access and confidence to help build careers in a 
wide range of organisations and sectors. Graduates are now working for 
organisations such as Clean Break, The Albany, Shared Experience, Arts 
Council England, BBC, British Council, Kali Theatre and Birmingham 
Rep.The programme will be fully accessible in a wide variety of training 
and learning environments including residential courses, mentoring, 
placements and seminars. Participants will be encouraged to develop 
their own individual learning.

The programme will run from March 2007 and applications are now being 
sought from deaf and disabled people working in arts management, or 
those with transferable skills who wish to work in arts management.

For further information and an application form go to www.itc-arts.org 
or contact Carol Sidney, Fast Track Co-ordinator 020 7089 6820, e mail 
csidney at itc-arts.org.
The deadline for applications is Thursday 25th January 2007.



Online
www.24hourmuseum.org The 24 Hour Museum is the UK's National Virtual 
Museum, offering a unique mix of dynamic content including daily arts 
and museum news as well as exhibition reviews and in-depth online trails.

The site promotes publicly funded UK museums galleries and heritage 
attractions and seeks to develop new audiences for UK culture.


www.sixsites for sound.net this website is part of the recent Six Sites 
for Sound Project curated by Anna Colin and Tobi Maier. The site 
contains downloads of sound works and of project events including the 
Art Through Touch Clear Spot broadcast on Resonance 104.4fm.

www.resonancefm.com
The web site of Resonance 104.4 fm London's first radio art station, 
brought to you by the London Musicians' Collective .It started 
broadcasting on May 1st 2002. Its brief? To provide a radical 
alternative to the universal formulae of mainstream broadcasting.

www.rnib.org.uk/audiodescription
Please note new link to Audio Description theatre Listings on the RNIB 
website.




How to get to Popular Art Venues Listed
Travel Information London
Transport for London online Journey Planner: 
http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk
24hour London Travel Information: 0207222 1234 Minicom: 020 7918 3015

198 Gallery,
198 Railton Road, Herne Hill, SE24 0LU. Tel: 0207 978 8309
www.198gallery.co.uk
Underground: Brixton
Rail: Herne Hill

Hayward Gallery,
South Bank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XZ. Tel: 020 7921 0813. 
www.hayward.org.uk
Buses to Waterloo: Route Numbers 1, 4, 26, 68, X68, 76, 168, 171, 176, 
188, 501, 505, 521 stop on Waterloo Bridge. Route Numbers 76, 77, 171A, 
211, 507, D1, P11 stop in York Road P11 stops in Stamford Street. The 
new Riverside Bus service (RV1) links Covent Garden, the South Bank, 
Bankside and Tower Gateway, and runs from 6am to midnight every 10 minutes.
Underground: The Hayward Gallery is in walking distance from Waterloo 
and across the river from Temple, Embankment or Charing Cross 
underground stations
Rail: The Hayward Gallery is located within walking distance of Waterloo 
and Waterloo East.

Geffrye Museum,
Kingsland Road, London E2 8EA. Tel: 020 7739 9893
www.geffrye-museum.org.uk
Travel
Tube: Liverpool Street, then bus 149 or 242 Old Street (exit 2), then 
bus 243 or a 15 minute walk.
Buses: 149, 242, 243, 67, 394

Courtauld Institute of Art
Somerset House, Strand London WC2R 1LA
Tel: 020 7420 9403
By Underground: The nearest underground stations are Charing Cross (on 
the Northern, Bakerloo and Jubilee Lines), Temple (on the District and 
Circle Lines - not open Sundays), Covent Garden (on the Piccadilly Line) 
and Holborn (on the Central and Piccadilly Lines).
By Rail: The nearest railway stations are Waterloo, Charing Cross and 
Blackfriars.

Museum of London
London Wall, London EC2 5HN
Telephone 0870 444 3850 Email groups at museumoflondon.org.uk 
website:www.museumoflondon.org.uk
Nearest tubes: St Paul's (Central Line), Barbican (Hammersmith & 
City/Circle/Metropolitan Lines), Moorgate (Northern/City Thameslink)

The National Gallery,
Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN
Rail: Charing Cross Station (Entrances: Getty 210 metres, Sainsbury Wing 
330 metres, Education 405 metres).
Underground Stations: Charing Cross, Northern and Bakerloo Lines 
(Entrances: Getty 175 metres, Sainsbury Wing 290 metres). Leicester 
Square, Northern and Piccadilly Lines (Entrances: Getty 460 metres, 
Sainsbury Wing 575 metres, Education Centre 355 metres) are the closest. 
Embankment, Northern, Bakerloo, District and Circle Lines (Entrances: 
Getty 450 metres, Sainsbury Wing 565 metres, Education Centre 645 metres).
None of these stations has a lift.
Bus: Buses around Trafalgar Square: 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 29, 
53, 77A, 88, 91, 139, 159, 176, 453.
(Please note: many buses are adapted for wheelchair users)

Pocklington Resource Centre,
1c Yukon Road, Balham, London SW12 9PZ
Underground: Clapham South and Balham (Northern Line)
Rail: Balham
Bus: 155, 249, 315, 355

Pump House Gallery. Battersea Park, SW11 4NJ
Tel: 020 7350 0523
Email: pump_house at lineone.net
www.wandsworth.gov.uk/gallery

Serpentine Gallery,
Kensington Gardens, London W2 3XA
Tel: 020 7402 6075 Recorded information 020 7298 1515
www.serpentinegallery.org
Underground: Knightsbridge, Lancaster Gate, South Kensington
Buses: 9, 10, 12, 52, 94, 148
Metered parking in Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park
Full disability access

Tate Britain,
Millbank, London SW1P 4RG
www.tate.org.uk
Underground: Pimlico (Victoria Line)
By train: Vauxhall and Victoria.
Bus: A number of buses service the area, including 2, 3, C10, 36, 77A, 
88, 159, 185, 507.
By boat: Tate Boat runs every forty minutes along the Thames between 
Tate Modern, the London Eye and Tate Britain.
By taxi: A taxi drop off/pick up point is situated on Millbank, just 
outside the Millbank entrance.
By car: There is a limited amount of pay and display parking in the 
streets surrounding Tate Britain (free at weekends and after 18.30).

Tate Modern,
Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Tel:020 7887 8000 www.tate.org.uk
Underground: Southwark (Jubilee Line) and Blackfriars (District and 
Circle Lines) are the closest underground stations both of which are 
approximately ten minutes walk away.
Buses: RV1, 45, 63, 100, 381, 344.
By boat: Tate Boat runs every forty minutes along the Thames between 
Tate Modern, the London Eye and Tate Britain.

V&A South Kensington,
Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
Tel: 020 7942 2000 www.vam.ac.uk
Nearest Tube station: South Kensington (District and Circle; and 
Piccadilly lines)


Please Note: Inclusion of items in this Bulletin does not necessarily 
signify endorsement by Art Through Touch.

Art through Touch acknowledges the generous support of the Pocklington 
Resource Centre, Balham and Shape.

The Art Through Touch is funded by: Action for Blind People, Arts 
Council England, The Miles Trust for Putney and Roehampton Community, 
The Community Learning Chest and RNIB.