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Crafts, theater, garden, 3-D art of images from a microscope
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Herald & Review, Illinois
Sunday, May 22, 2005

Blind man takes up woodworking to satisfy the man in the mirror

By ARLENE MANNLEIN - H&R Staff Writer 

DECATUR - Waldo Briscoe is the first one to admit it - he wasn't very good 
company to be around. But he also knew he was his only solution.

"You take a good look at yourself," he said, his USS Briscoe cap perched jauntily on his 
white hair. "Who can change you but yourself?"

Though Brisco is blind, he said, "I didn't like the person I saw in the mirror."

Briscoe, now 78, lost sight in one eye at the age of 5, he said, and when he 
was 16 he quit school when he lost sight in his other eye.

"When I was almost 20, I had surgery and got one eye back," he said.

He went on to become an over-the-road driver and a mechanic. His father taught him, he 
said, "If you do a job, do it the best you can so you don't have to do it over."

He also owned Briscoe Excavating until problems returned for his remaining 
sight in the early 1990s. Successive surgeries didn't help, and the glaucoma 
seemed to worsen until he finally went blind.

After sitting around for a year or so, and looking in that mirror, he took up 
woodworking.

"My wife was sure I'd cut off my finger or my hand," he said, slightly smiling. 
True, he has had some scrapes and cuts but no lost appendages.

So far, his accomplishments have included building a deck across the front of 
the home and siding and roofing his shop and garage. Smaller projects include 
paper towel holders, small cedar chests and jewelry boxes, flag boxes, Beanie 
Baby barns, crosses and walnut ruler racks.

He decided to do the shop siding when he found he could save about $3,000 by doing his own work on 
the nearly two-story high building. Even accounting for the fact it took him longer to do than it 
would have professionals, he figured he "made," or saved, about $500 a week. "Pretty 
good for a blind man," he said.

With his flag boxes, he is especially caring. He wants the recipient of a 
military rites flag to have a lasting memorial.

"When I make one of these, I aim for it to be deluxe. You can't shortchange 
them," he said.

The ruler racks are a specialty requested by his quilting daughter, Linda 
Boles. The piece of walnut, finely sanded and treated with tung oil, has 
slightly slanted slots designed to hold the various rulers used by quilters.

He donated a couple of the racks locally - he usually donates or gives away 
everything he makes - to the volunteer blanketeers who work with Project Linus 
making blankets for traumatized children.

"We are just so excited to be one of his recipients," said Mary Balagna, 
chapter coordinator for Project Linus Central Illinois.

"He's a gifted, gifted person. The ruler rack is such a perfect piece," she 
said. And Briscoe has donated two more to be given away during the Project Linus National 
Conference in Bloomington in June.

Briscoe has a favorite wood, cedar, even though it has a habit of splintering. 
That flaw once caused him to make an error. He doesn't make mistakes with the 
wood because he asks his wife, Geneva, to tell him which side is the wood's 
best. But when a piece of cedar splintered in a trunk, he routed it out for 
replacement.

"I went and got a piece of cedar; it was walnut. That's what a blind man would do. I 
was so sure it was cedar, I didn't even check," he said.

Boles encouraged him to leave the walnut piece intact, much as quilters do if 
they discover a sewing error.

Briscoe's woodworking hasn't been without obstacles. Once, he said, he knew 
someone moved something in his shop while he was in there working.

"A friend wouldn't do that," he said, but he then figured out a way to alert 
him when someone enters the shop.

Then on one early morning, someone broke into the shop and, though the police 
arrived rapidly, the thieves made away with some of his smaller tools.

None of these incidents stop him.

"It's my therapy. If you don't feel good about yourself, you aren't living 
right," he said.

With all he builds, Briscoe seldom uses a nail but does use a lot of waterproof 
wood glue. He recommends tung oil for finishing because of its ease of 
application.

While his shop has all of the usual big equipment - drum sander, drill press, 
radial arm saw and router - his favorite tool is a 6-inch ruler. This unique 
ruler is marked with grooves at 1/16 of an inch with different notches for a 
half-inch and an inch. With its accompanying extensions, which screw into the 
original, he can measure accurately from 1/16 of an inch to 5 feet.

"It's as handy as a shirt pocket," he said with a laugh.

Arlene Mannlein can be reached at amannlein@;herald-review.com or 421-6976.


http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2005/05/22/news/local_news/1007997.txt



Scotsman.com
Thursday, May 05, 2005

Blind pupil makes it to Fringe design shortlist

EDINBURGH - A TEENAGER from the city's Royal Blind School has made it on to the shortlist to design the face of this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Jennifer Murray, 14, was among more than 3400 pupils from 108 schools across Scotland who took part in the design contest. 

The winning entry - to be announced on May 16 - will be a key image in the 
Fringe's official merchandise.


http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=483022005



Community Newswire (UK)
Thursday, June 16, 2005

CHARITY FOR BLIND HONOURS THEATRE

By Ben Pindar, Community Newswire 

A Bristol theatre was today celebrating after being honoured by a national 
charity for opening up arts and entertainment for people with sight problems.

Bristol Old Vic has been awarded the RNIB - the Royal National Institute for 
the Blind - Simply The Best Award 2005 for Leisure Access, beating off stiff 
competition from Bristol University, BSkyB, Granada Ventures, Laing Art Gallery 
and Vue Entertainment.

The theatre has been providing audio description and touch tours since 2002, 
led by a team of volunteers specially trained in audio description techniques.

The service has become a great success with audience numbers steadily 
increasing. Only a select few venues in the South West currently offer this 
service, which has proved invaluable to people with sight problems.

Bristol Old Vic was nominated by many of the regular attendees at the 
audio-described performances and the award ceremony in London was attended by 
Front of House Manager Julie Jepson and Megan Thomas who leads the audio 
description team.

Ms Jepson said: "Access remains very important to us here at Bristol Old Vic. All 
our audio describers are volunteers and it is fantastic for the energy and commitment of 
everyone involved in delivering these performances and touch tours to be recognised by 
this award."

For more information about the work of the RNIB visit the charity's website at 
www.rnib.org.uk

http://services.press.net/pressnet/communitynewswire/index.jsp?story_id=984152&setStyle=mlStory&returnStyle=heading.cnw



North Devon Gazette (UK)
Thursday, May 05, 2005

Craftswomen keep winning trophies

By devon.editorial@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

CAPTION: Phyllis Sloley and Joan Dutton show off some of their work. 

A trophy has been brought back to Ilfracombe for the past six years thanks to 
the skills of two local ladies. But the excellent knitted toys and garments 
produced by Phyllis Sloley and Joan Dutton are all the more impressive because 
both are members of Ilfracombe Blind Club.

Phyllis is registered blind while Joan is partially sighted, but that doesn't 
stop either producing fine work which is exhibited annually at the Arts and 
Crafts Show in Exeter, organised by the Devon County Association for the Blind.

The last event saw both score the most points in their respective categories, 
competing against clubs from across Devon - with Phyllis scooping the Best in 
Show trophy.

Phyllis uses knitting patterns set to audio tape, while Joan uses patterns set 
on very large print - and for the past six years the top trophy has simply 
passed back and forth between the pair!

Craftwork is as fulfilling for blind or partially sighted people as anyone else. Phyllis 
commented: "You take a lot of satisfaction from it, and of course we like to win 
back the cup each year for Ilfracombe!"

Joan added: "I have had two strokes and this is good for helping to keep my hands 
mobile."

Pauline Williams, who runs the club, said a vast number of exhibits were put 
forward by enthusiastic members, including knitted toys, blankets, baby clothes 
and rugs, as well as woven stools, dolls, tea pot stand and handmade sewing 
boxes!

"I am so proud of what members do on behalf of the club - this is a special 
achievement and I can't praise them enough," she said.

The club has 25 members who meet on the third Saturday of each month to sell 
crafts at Ilfracombe Parish Church Hall. Various outings, meals and evenings 
out are arranged to give members a chance to socialise. A holiday, with carers, 
is arranged each year by the DCAB.

"It is all about getting out and about, having a social life and helping to raise 
money for their club," continued Pauline.

"The sales are our only means of keeping going, as all other grants have been 
withdrawn after cut backs. Members make things to sell throughout the year, and we are 
always on the lookout for more people, and more funds."

Anyone who would like to join the club, or find put more, can call Pauline on 
(01271) 864775.


http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/northdevongazette/news/story.aspx?brand=ndgonline&category=news&tBrand=devon24&tCategory=newsndga&itemid=DEED05%20May%202005%2013%3A26%3A10%3A520


The Australian
Monday, May 02, 2005

Design winners: designs include new Sensor Braille keyboard


....Huy Tran from Victoria's Swinburne University of Technology came up 
with the Sensor Braille keyboard, which has eight input keys and about 400 
pints (tactile characters) to provide a Braille version of what's on the 
computer screen. Gregory Scott from the University of NSW came up with Yolk, a 
snow sport helmet with integrated headphones. ....



http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,15132850%5E15841%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html





Cleveland.com (Ohio)
Thursday, May 19, 2005

Garden for blind people is a treat for senses

By Kaye Spector, Plain Dealer Reporter

Most gardens are planned and planted as places to see beauty. But a special garden at a Cleveland library branch is a space where beauty can be touched, smelled and heard.

The Sensory Garden at the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, part of the Cleveland Public Library system, has plants specially selected for their scents and textures so that blind and disabled people can enjoy them: nutty geranium, root beer plant, lime basil, pineapple sage, peppermint and sweet bay magnolia, among dozens of others.

A raised elliptical bed at the garden's center is high enough so its plants are within reach of people who use wheelchairs. Cobblestone paving marks special areas of interest for visually impaired visitors. Small metal signs identify the plants in Braille and print.

The snug garden at the library on Lake Shore Boulevard near East 171st Street is tucked against a wall near the building's entrance, a quiet spot that seems far from the din of nearby traffic. On a recent warm, sunny day, the air was thick with the sweet scent of blooming hyacinth. A wind chime tinkled while birds flapped and chirped in the garden's pine trees.

Sarah Bishop often comes to the Sensory Garden on warm afternoons to enjoy the sounds and scents. Bishop, who is visually impaired and uses a motorized scooter, lives in an apartment near the library.

"I love that garden," Bishop said. "People who are blind, they can share so much with the garden because of the way it's planted. They get the opportunity to just guide themselves around and feel the plants, smell them and get a sense of what they're feeling. It certainly has added a lot to our lives."

Initial money for the garden came from a bequest from Deborah Zak, a former assistant department head of the library for the blind, who died in 1994.

Zak was passionate about providing services for the blind and about gardening, said Barbara Mates, head of the library. Mates had heard of a similar garden at an Oklahoma library and thought it would be a fitting homage to Zak, while serving the library's visually impaired and disabled patrons in a unique way.

The surprise was that the garden is enjoyed by sighted and nondisabled visitors as well, Mates said. Many neighbors come for the butterfly bushes, ornamental grasses and herbs. Some have used the site for wedding photos, Mates said.

"Anyone who sees it thinks it's the most serene place," Mates said. "It's a boon for the neighborhood and for our patrons as well."

The garden was first planted in 1998 and substantially expanded in 1999. It is maintained through donations.

The Sensory Garden is not just a warm-weather place, either. On a cold, blustery day in March, Mates looked out her window and saw two people walking around the garden, looking at crocuses and other early plants that were beginning to shoot up.

"I think they were looking for signs of life," Mates said with a laugh.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: 

kspector@xxxxxxxxxx, 216-999-3904

http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living/1116495324202420.xml&coll=2




This is Plymouth (UK)
Friday, June 17, 2005

Getting a feel for Pupils' Art

By MATT FLEMING

Blind and partially- sighted people in Plympton have been given the chance to 
experience some new scientific artwork - hands-on. Pupils at Ridgeway School 
designed pieces of art based on parts of the body and gave elderly residents at 
Pocklington Rise Home for the Blind a chance to touch them.

About 20 students in a Year 10 class put the display together so the pensioners 
could appreciate art despite their visual impairments.

Art teacher Karen Findlay explained: "It lets people who are blind or visually 
impaired see the art. The residents at the home seemed very intrigued.

"It's opened up a whole new world of art for them."

The pieces were based on images seen under an incredibly powerful microscope, 
showing tiny objects in the human body, including cells and parts of the larynx.

The students then duplicated the images and made their artworks out of clay, 
latex and plaster, building them up into 3D pictures.

Ms Findlay said: "It was a unique project. It was where art meets science meets 
community, which was brilliant for the students.

"The pieces were put up at the home at a level which was comfortable for the 
residents to feel them. They were so impressed that they're looking to make some similar 
art themselves."


http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=133472&command=displayContent&sourceNode=133209&contentPK=12653027


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