[nfbwatlk] Blind get unique tour of Maya Lin exhibit at Henry

[Lauren Merryfield]

Blind get unique tour of Maya Lin exhibit at Henry
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/279492_blind31.html

Blind get unique tour of Maya Lin exhibit at Henry

Monday, July 31, 2006

By BRENDA STICE
P-I REPORTER

Imagine walking across a rising-wave landscape made completely of vertical two-by-fours that reach as high as 10 feet and as low as a couple of inches.
Now imagine walking it with your eyes closed, not knowing which way the uneven course will lead and allowing your hands to do your eyes' job.

That's how a group of blind students and mentors experienced Maya Lin's "Systematic Landscapes" exhibition at the Henry Art Gallery on Friday. The group
came to the University of Washington from all over the country for the Vertical Mentoring Workshop for the Blind in Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics. The national convention began Wednesday and concluded Friday afternoon.

Table with 3 columns and 3 rows
  

Systematic Landscapes
  

Zoom
Paul Joseph Brown / P-I
  
Xavier Peguero, a sophomore from Case Western Reserve University, navigates a mountain of cut two-by-fours in Maya Lin's "Systematic Landscapes" at the
Henry Art Gallery. Peguero and others toured the works during a University of Washington workshop for blind students and professionals.
table end

The visit to the Henry Art Gallery involved eight people here for the workshop, including Xavier Peguero, a 20-year-old sophomore from Case Western Reserve
University in Cleveland.

"That's an imagination right there," Peguero exclaimed. "There's so many things that you can see with your hands."

Peguero was grateful for the opportunity. Being blind makes it harder for him to go out on such excursions.

Robert Jaquiss, the 53-year-old executive director of the VIEW International Foundation -- a non-profit that helps blind and sighted people work and learn
together -- couldn't agree more.

"It's an incredible experience. Blind people don't often get to look at sculptures. We are most fortunate that the Henry Art Gallery allowed us to come.
You read about things like this, but you don't often see them," Jaquiss said.

An expert in tactile graphics, Jaquiss spoke Thursday night on "Touching Experiences with Tactile Graphics and Models." His hope for the three-day workshop
was to help encourage younger blind students.

That's also what Richard Ladner, the workshop's coordinator, had in mind.

"This workshop is a way for high schoolers to be mentored by college students, college students to be mentored by graduate students and graduate students
to be mentored by faculty members and professionals, all of whom are blind," Ladner said.

"It looked like a good opportunity to network with other blind scientists, to get to know them and benefit from their experiences," said 18-year-old Alysha
Jeans, of Wichita, Kan.

Jeans will attend Rice University in Houston in the fall. Browsing the newest technology for blind computer users, Jeans pointed out the biggest challenge
of being a blind person: the cost. Computers are expensive as it is, but having to buy one that has even more advanced technology to cater to its user
tacks on a much larger bill.

"Access technology is expensive. There's lots of technology out there, but gaining access to it is hard," Jeans said.

Although costly, technological advancements in computers and printers are making huge strides for blind people in the work force.

"You can do print and you can do Braille. And you can do print with Braille. It gives both blind and sighted people the opportunity to work together. Very
important," Jaquiss said.

P-I reporter Brenda Stice can be reached at 206-448-8381 or brendastice at seattlepi.com.

© 1998-2006 Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"What you really desire is to matter, to make a difference,
to add your own special essence and flavor to life. What
will bring you fulfillment is to create, express and bring
to life, in your own way, the unique beauty of your spirit."  --Ralph Marston 
"Nature abhors a vacuum, but not as much as cats do." - Lee Entrekin
CATLINES has moved to a blog at:
http://bizcats.blogs.com/catlines/
sign up for CATLINES and more:
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-------------- next part --------------
Blind get unique tour of Maya Lin exhibit at Henry
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/279492_blind31.html http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/279492_blind31.html
 
Blind get unique tour of Maya Lin exhibit at Henry
 
Monday, July 31, 2006
 
By BRENDA STICE
P-I REPORTER
 
Imagine walking across a rising-wave landscape made completely of vertical two-by-fours that reach as high as 10 feet and as low as a couple of inches.
Now imagine walking it with your eyes closed, not knowing which way the uneven course will lead and allowing your hands to do your eyes' job.
 
That's how a group of blind students and mentors experienced Maya Lin's "Systematic Landscapes" exhibition at the Henry Art Gallery on Friday. The group
came to the University of Washington from all over the country for the Vertical Mentoring Workshop for the Blind in Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics. The national convention began Wednesday and concluded Friday afternoon.
 
Table with 3 columns and 3 rows
  
 
Systematic Landscapes
  
 
Zoom
Paul Joseph Brown / P-I
  
Xavier Peguero, a sophomore from Case Western Reserve University, navigates a mountain of cut two-by-fours in Maya Lin's "Systematic Landscapes" at the
Henry Art Gallery. Peguero and others toured the works during a University of Washington workshop for blind students and professionals.
table end
 
The visit to the Henry Art Gallery involved eight people here for the workshop, including Xavier Peguero, a 20-year-old sophomore from Case Western Reserve
University in Cleveland.
 
"That's an imagination right there," Peguero exclaimed. "There's so many things that you can see with your hands."
 
Peguero was grateful for the opportunity. Being blind makes it harder for him to go out on such excursions.
 
Robert Jaquiss, the 53-year-old executive director of the VIEW International Foundation -- a non-profit that helps blind and sighted people work and learn
together -- couldn't agree more.
 
"It's an incredible experience. Blind people don't often get to look at sculptures. We are most fortunate that the Henry Art Gallery allowed us to come.
You read about things like this, but you don't often see them," Jaquiss said.
 
An expert in tactile graphics, Jaquiss spoke Thursday night on "Touching Experiences with Tactile Graphics and Models." His hope for the three-day workshop
was to help encourage younger blind students.
 
That's also what Richard Ladner, the workshop's coordinator, had in mind.
 
"This workshop is a way for high schoolers to be mentored by college students, college students to be mentored by graduate students and graduate students
to be mentored by faculty members and professionals, all of whom are blind," Ladner said.
 
"It looked like a good opportunity to network with other blind scientists, to get to know them and benefit from their experiences," said 18-year-old Alysha
Jeans, of Wichita, Kan.
 
Jeans will attend Rice University in Houston in the fall. Browsing the newest technology for blind computer users, Jeans pointed out the biggest challenge
of being a blind person: the cost. Computers are expensive as it is, but having to buy one that has even more advanced technology to cater to its user
tacks on a much larger bill.
 
"Access technology is expensive. There's lots of technology out there, but gaining access to it is hard," Jeans said.
 
Although costly, technological advancements in computers and printers are making huge strides for blind people in the work force.
 
"You can do print and you can do Braille. And you can do print with Braille. It gives both blind and sighted people the opportunity to work together. Very
important," Jaquiss said.
 
P-I reporter Brenda Stice can be reached at 206-448-8381 or mailto:brendastice at seattlepi.com brendastice at seattlepi.com
.
 
© 1998-2006 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
"What you really desire is to matter, to make a difference,
to add your own special essence and flavor to life. What
will bring you fulfillment is to create, express and bring
to life, in your own way, the unique beauty of your spirit."  --Ralph Marston
"Nature abhors a vacuum, but not as much as cats do." — Lee Entrekin
CATLINES has moved to a blog at:
http://bizcats.blogs.com/catlines/ http://bizcats.blogs.com/catlines/
sign up for CATLINES and more:
http://www.catliness.com http://www.catliness.com