Journey Through Touch: A Tactile Art Experience

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 Silletti, 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. 

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