Studio Time
Discover Your Talents
Your instructor will work closely with you to identify the types of art projects that are best suited to you. Try your hand at painting, sculpture, macramé and more. You’ll learn adaptive techniques where necessary, acquiring the tools to reach your full artistic potential.
Whether your personal artwork becomes a passion, a pastime or just a memory of your HKNC experience, your new skills and appreciation will enable you to take greater pleasure in the art that surrounds you in your everyday life.
Learn Adaptive Techniques
Choose Your Medium and Learn Techniques
Whatever medium you choose, your instructor will introduce you to techniques that can enable you to work more independently.
Your instructor will show you different ways to approach challenging aspects of a project and will help you to figure out what will work best for you.
We have an array of materials that can make your work easier and enhance your sensory experience:
- Oversized paintbrushes, needles and crochet hooks
- Bulky yarn
- Needle threaders
- Portable work tables
- Spill-proof containers
- Air-dry clay
- Scented markers
- Sand, glitter and beads to texturize conventional materials
Explore the Fine Arts
- Drawing
- Painting
- Ceramics
- Sculpture
- Mixed media collage
Delve into Craftwork
- Macramé
- Pottery
- Basketry
- Hook rugs
- Weaving
- Needlework
“Seeing Differently: A Tactile Art Experience”
Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) partners with The Art Guild on “Seeing Differently: A Tactile Art Experience.” This exhibition showcases a diverse array of tactile art pieces such as paintings, sculptures, and mixed media creations from July 17 to August 1, 2024. All art pieces were made by DeafBlind participants from HKNC’s Comprehensive Vocational Rehabilitation Program.
Journey Through Touch: A Tactile Art Experience
What an extraordinary occasion it turned out to be for Helen Keller Services’ art exhibit – a moment that brought together not only our valued participants but also the entire supportive community at The Art Guild’s opening for “Journey Through Touch: A Tactile Art Experience.”
This remarkable exhibition, made possible by the generous grant from Hearts PW, stands as a heartwarming testament of support for our organization. During the opening events, individuals from across HKNC and HKSB, along with local community members, state representatives, and art aficionados celebrated the expressions brought forth by our DeafBlind and blind communities. The participants beamed with pride as their artistic creations adorned the gallery walls, facilitating meaningful conversations and connections with the attending guests.
The atmosphere within the gallery was filled with enthusiasm, reflecting a genuine appreciation for these artists. Through their works, they generously offered us glimpses into their personal journeys.
We are thrilled to present an inclusive video featuring audio description, ASL Interpretation, voice-over, captions, and a transcript.
This incredible exhibit ran until August 17, 2023.
The video begins showing two clips of artwork on display in a gallery with the title: “Journey through Touch: A Tactile Art Experience.” Then an approaching view of the Art Guild front entrance. A DeafBlind man arrives at the entrance with a sighted guide. Inside, DeafBlind individuals communicate using tactile sign language in the busy art gallery; A close up of their hands reveals the use of print on palm technique.
Then, there are several clips of attendees and participants during the opening event. A DeafBlind participant communicates using sign language with attendees. An art therapy instructor from Helen Keller National Center welcomes guests to the event. A DeafBlind participant communicates about his artwork during the exhibit. A DeafBlind man stands with an SSP in front of artwork communicating in tactile sign language.
Kristi speaks to an audience holding a microphone: “If you think about a tree. Look how many branches it has. Think about how those branches stretch. They stretch out! Think of those branches as opportunities.”
After Kristi, a second sequence of clips follows. A woman feels the artwork on display and comments in ASL, “that’s beautiful.” A woman guides a blind participant’s hand to feel the tactile artwork on the wall. A Blind young adult runs his hands over artwork of ceramic alphabet letters with braille rivets. Copper sculptures, an artist’s bio and a poster are displayed on a table. A man feels around a tactile seashell collage hanging in a frame on the wall. New York State Assemblywoman, Gina Sillitti, addresses the group. A DeafBlind artist communicates to the group about her artwork. Exhibit attendees interact with that artist and an interpreter.
The video then shows Chris Woodfill, of Helen Keller National Center, communicating to the camera in ASL with voice over and captions.
Chris Woodfill: “Sometimes when our participants come, it’s hard for them to talk about their journey. But the art helps them. It helps them express what they’re going through.”
The video then displays a still photograph of a participant artist and art therapy instructor, then fades to a fast, closing sequence of artwork displayed throughout the gallery exhibit. The camera pans through various paintings and pieces of art displayed on walls, a piece of colorful fabric art (a quilt), a pair of painted sneakers, a large map on a display table, a piece of macrame art holding a decorative bowl, small musical instruments made from clay, paintings of cats on a wall with a braille and written story book displayed, and a final multi-perspective collage which displays the words “Blind is a Spectrum” in raised colorful foam letters. The video then fades to the Helen Keller Services logo, QR code and HelenKeller.org over a white background.
[End of transcript]
