[accessibleimage] Art Education for the Blind video on YouTube, Australia. Spokane, Cuadrado

What's Possible? Art Education for the Blind  video on YOUTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u65bKveNc0

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Biennale paints a picture for those who have ears to see
AT 80, Lilian Yang's interest in art has never dimmed. But her sight has. Slowly at first, until about eight years ago when the doctor of philosophy in Chinese literature was declared legally blind.
"I'm a real book person, also galleries and art have been part of my life for as far back as I can remember," she says. "So I don't want to be cut off."
For the first time in a Sydney gallery, she won't be. Four audio describers - volunteers trained to commentate a play or film for those who cannot see it - will conduct guided tours of some of the Biennale of Sydney artworks on August 23 as part of the Lord Mayor's Community Access Day.
Already well established at the Tate in London and the Museum of Modern Art and Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the program describes the colours, shapes and effect of a work to allow a visually impaired person to imagine and make their own judgment of it. "Using really well-organised, beautiful language, you can come away thinking: I saw that picture," Yang says.
The one-day program will focus on biennale artworks that would otherwise be inaccessible to those without sight, such as Jesus Rafael Soto's mixed-media optical kinetic relief, Triptico Azul, Negro y Violetta (1977).
A volunteer for Vision Australia, Mettina Pavlakis, says the event will be groundbreaking for the four describers because they have only worked in theatre and television since the program was set up in Sydney in 2000.
"Something like this is complex to look at - let alone describe - so we're really looking forward to it," Pavlakis says.
A similar event has been planned using sign language for the hearing impaired, and the Art Gallery of NSW will include about 10 works in the visual program, with a further four featured at the Museum of Contemporary Art, and three at Pier 2/3 at Walsh Bay.
"You still use the names of the colours and what you see, so there is no difference [describing for] someone who has been born blind, or has in the later years developed blindness," Pavlakis says. And they hope to get feedback. "We're very happy to take questions, but we're going to play by ear." 

http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/biennale-paints-a-picture-for-those-who-have-ears-to-see/2008/08/12/1218306891079.html

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Non-profit to add more Braille in Spokane
SPOKANE -- A Spokane non-profit is trying to get the word out about the struggles of the visually impaired by offering a free Braille-translation service for local businesses.
The Lilac Services for the Blind is offering all Inland Northwest business owners the opportunity to translate their pamphlets or information sheets for free.
The non-profit organization recently completed menus for some Spokane restaurants and hotels and will soon begin translating Spokane Transit Authority maps and bus schedules. 
http://www.kxly.com/Global/story.asp?S=8833461&nav=menu683_2



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The fact that Cuadrado was going blind while the film was being shot makes the picture an even more amazing accomplishment. The fact that Victor Erice has only made two feature length films since this amazing debut is a tragedy. The Spirit of the Beehive takes place in 1940 Spain, shortly after Francisco Franco took over power. The film, made near the end of Franco's reign, was made in a time of censorship by the Spanish government. Films during this era were forced to use allegory and fantasy to disguise any political messages. While The Spirit of the Beehive does not assert an overtly political agenda, the lives of the people affected by the Spanish Civil War are presented in a way showing the feelings of the director towards the regime. 

http://www.411mania.com/movies/columns/82607

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