[accessibleimage] art exhibition, photography, trail, game

Hi,
Links to 4 articles, note especially the article about the "Sharing Worlds
through Touch" exhibit or which Ann Cunningham is the currator, one about
photography, braille traille, and interactive game.
Regards,
Lisa
http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20050422/ENTERTAIN/104220067
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1114323999172000.xml
http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2005/04/21/TopStories/Game-For.Visually.Impaired.Wins.University.Competition-932764.shtml
http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=271&fArticleId=2490289


UNC exhibits works by blind artists                     
Jack Schneider
April 22, 2005
Close your eyes.
That's what tactile artist Ann Cunningham wants viewers to do when they
enter the Mari Michener gallery at the University of Northern Colorado.
It may be an odd thing to do when viewing art and sculpture, but
Cunningham wants people to experience how some artists create their work:
Vision without sight.
Cunningham is curator of the "Sharing Worlds through Touch" exhibit, a
display of 27 pieces of art from five Greeley-area artists. The pieces
were created by artists who are either blind or have a certain degree of
blindness, she said.
For the past year and a half,
Cunningham has taught art to visually impaired students at the Colorado
Center for the Blind. This exhibit marks the first time students will have
their work displayed at the gallery.
Cunningham noticed in her classes that no matter how visually impaired a
person may be, everyone has the ability to create some form of art.
Some mediums presented in the display include bronze sculptures, painted
plasters, embroidery and even a maze called the "Maze of Life" by Tina
Ektermanis.
In addition to student displays, Cunningham will display her bronze and
cherrywood sculpture "Winking, Blinking and Nod."
Cunningham said she is excited to not only have her and her students' art
displayed but to have viewers talk to the artists.
"I'm looking forward to observing artists talk to general public on what
they're trying to express," she said.
TO GO
"Sharing Worlds through Touch," an art exhibit, will be on display through
May 20 at the Mari Michener Gallery at the University of Northern
Colorado. A reception is 4-6 p.m. today. Details, 356-8593.


Game for visually impaired wins University competition
Game Court 2005 offered contestants chance at $100 prize
By Tosin Mfon 

Media Credit: Brian Ray 
Bryan Roberts, an English senior, presents his video game idea at Game
Court 2005 on Wednesday evening. Roberts and other UT students presented
their game models before a panel of judges who questioned and critiqued
their plans.
Four groups of game designers pitched new electronic game concepts
Wednesday evening at the Geology Building to a panel of judges that
included faculty and entrepreneurs from the gaming industry. Each game
concept was vying for the grand prize of $100 in Game Court 2005, the
inaugural digital gaming competition sponsored by the University's
Science, Technology and Society Program and the Electronic Game Developers
Society.
The University-wide competition sought an alternative to the violent and
sexually charged games that now flood the mainstream, said Paul Toprac,
Game Court coordinator. The rules restricted violence, sexuality, sexual
stereotypes and nudity.
"It is to show that University of Texas students can come up with creative
games that don't have to be violent and sexist in nature," Toprac, a
research assistant in the UT Institute for Advanced Technology, said.
"Games can be creative and not have to resort to the lowest element of
human beings; that's the plan."
Audio Adventure, the winner in the most innovative game category, targeted
the untapped market of the visually impaired. According to game designer
Julianna Budding, a design senior, there are approximately 10 million
visually impaired Americans, the majority of whom own computers. The game
allows users to forge through a galaxy using sound bites to guide them.
Paul Gasca, a radio-television-film senior, developed the concept and was
excited about what this win could do for the blind community.
"I'm really happy to have won the competition, because we are going to
create a game that is beneficial to the blind community," Gasca said. "It
gives me confidence that we could take it further and develop the full
game for the blind community."
Elizabeth Keating, an associate professor in the department of
anthropology, who coordinated the competition with Toprac, said the
University's Science, Technology and Society program became involved
because there was an interest in seeing how video games impact students.
Toprac said that he was impressed by the students' creativity given the
competition's restriction on sexuality and violence.
"I thought the students did a great job presenting us with completely
different and innovative ideas. The judges were completely blown away,"
Toprac said. "They were expecting the shoot-em-up games that they usually
see, but they were really impressed."   

Mind's eye guides blind photographer
Sunday, April 24, 2005 
Sheila Stroup 
Henry Butler understands why some might question his motives as a fine
arts photographer. 
"I can't blame sighted people for thinking, 'This is kind of a joke,' "
the legendary jazz and blues pianist and composer said. "Most of them
haven't been exposed to a blind person being interested in the visual
arts." 
But Andrea duPlessis, Henry's education outreach coordinator and
photography assistant, says people who question Henry's motives don't know
him. "Henry has a great intellect, and he's enthusiastic about new ideas,"
she said. "He embraces life with every ounce of energy he has." 
She told me about the time Henry talked to a group of blind elementary
students at Longue Vue Gardens. 
"He said, 'Don't ever let anyone tell you you can't do something you want
to do. If you believe you can do it, you can. I have a camera, and now I'm
going to take your picture.' " 
Opening doors 
Wednesday night, at the opening reception of "How EYE See It: Photography
by Henry Butler" at the Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, Henry told the crowd a
story that illustrated what photography can mean to someone who can't see. 
During the summer jazz camp he holds for blind and visually impaired
teenage musicians, the students received cameras and learned they were
going to take pictures. 
"Their first reaction was, 'I don't know why we're doing this. We're ,' "
Henry said. 
But then they visited Art Silverman's studio, where Art told them about
the inspiration behind each of his sculptures and let them explore them,
giving them an introduction to a visual art they could touch. 
Henry talked about photography as a way of connecting with the seeing
world, and he introduced them to renowned photographer Herman Leonard, who
got them excited about capturing images with a camera. 
Soon, they were asking questions and eagerly aiming their cameras at the
sculptures and at each other. 
"It was great to stand back and watch the transformation," Henry said. 
'How can I grow?' 
Henry, who has been taking photographs since 1984, says he's not out to
prove anything. 
"It's about, 'How can I grow? How can I understand more about the world
around me?' " he said. 
Although he was blinded by glaucoma in infancy and has no memory of
seeing, he does get images in his mind. When Andrea explains a scene he
wants to photograph, or someone describes what they see in one of his
pictures, he gains an insight into how people see things. 
"That's very, very interesting to me," he said. "It's just so much fun to
have everyone involved." 
Henry depends on Andrea and Susann Gandolfo, his technical consultant, for
guidance, but he makes the final decisions about his photographs. 
"Most of what I do is a joint work in a way, but there are times when I
shoot without assistance, letting the camera and my fingers kind of roam
about, and that's fun, too," he said. 
His new exhibit features uninhibited Mardi Gras scenes, haunting
landscapes and several faces you will recognize. 
Taking photographs, making music and sharing his gifts with kids are just
a few of the many ways Henry tries to understand more about the world
around him 
"When we went to Ireland five or six years ago, I played darts," he said.
"Of course, we had people moving out of the way pretty fast, but I was
hitting bull's-eyes a lot." 
He also has bowled, skied cross-country, shot pool and had several
memorable driving experiences. 
"It's all about finding balance," he said. "It's about living a joyous
life." 
A second reception, including a performance by Henry, will be Thursday
from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, 841 Carondelet St.
"How EYE See It" will be on display until May 4. Gallery hours are Tuesday
through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. A portion of the proceeds from the sale
of the photographs will benefit the jazz camp for blind and visually
impaired teenage musicians. For a complete schedule of Henry's musical
performances during Jazzfest, visit www.henrybutler.com. 
Sheila Stroup can be reached at sstroup@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx or (985)
898-4831. 

Kirstenbosch unveils new braille trail experience
By JAIME GRIESGRABER
It may be the blind leading the blind, but they know exactly where they
are going. A new braille trail - launched yesterday at Kirstenbosch
National Botanical Garden - allows blind people to navigate, unassisted,
through a stretch of indigenous forest. 
The trail features a guide rope and information boards in large print and
braille.
"We take our eyes for granted," said Alice Notten, who helped design the
information boards. "The challenge was to make the experience more
meaningful. It's not just about the language, it's about incorporating the
senses in a way that's engaging, fun and interesting."
Staff at the botanical garden, with funding from the Kirstenbosch Rotary
Club, began planning their project nearly two years ago. The original
trail had a rope and signs in braille, but the overall experience has been
improved by smoothing the path, adding rope guides to benches and a
drinking fountain, and generally making the trail more user-friendly.
Ray Aukett is a blind Capetonian who assisted in designing the trail. 
He had been to the botanical garden in the past, but said this new trail
was much improved.
"The surface is better, and the benches are great to sit on for a while
and listen to the birds," he said.
Working on the trail was "quite an eye-opener", he said, and he was
satisfied that all minor details, like tree roots that could trip someone
up, had been attended to.
The circular pathway covers a distance of about 450 metres and takes 30
minutes to walk, although Aukett said he could enjoy himself for an hour. 
        





Lisa Yayla
Huseby Kompetansesenter 
Oslo Norway
lisa.yayla@xxxxxxxxxx



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