Art for the Blind – why are they excluded?

I feel so passionate about the fact that art should be accessible for all, not just for the visually able! How sad it is to see Art Galleries set out with most of the paintings on walls, often behind glass – but very much out of reach? I respect the fact that not all Art can be viewed and experienced by a visually impaired person, but i feel that there should be more places/venues catering for this sector of society, as well as many other disabilities, and also that they should be incorporated into everyday exhibitions rather than standing out as being something catering for the less able.We do so often highlight and disable people in our society when we need to be more inclusive. Also why do we think that the only way to view art is through the eyes? what about our other senses? To touch a piece of art, to smell it, to hear it…and maybe even to taste it (although not sure how that one would work) would be amazing!
For those of us who are blessed with sight maybe we could close our eyes for a while and journey around the exhibition ourselves, heightening our other senses as we remove the distractions caused by the critical eye?
I will endeavour to look into this further to address this issue.I am interested in textured inclusive art, but may also look into incorporating light (as some visually impaired people can recognise light) the use of colour, smell, and sound – in the hope that i can address the imbalance in equality, and the noticable discrimination some disabled people must feel.
I think this issue will become the main focus of my professional development practice, and something i will work on over the next three years i am at uni.

The image below is of an interactive art piece , which looks great fun!

http://monkeymoo12345pdp.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/art-for-the-blind-why-are-they-excluded/

Tactile Art

Tactile Art

http://twinklepinkpostit.blogspot.com/2007/03/tactile-art.html

The artist tries to connect tactility with visual, making different texture on 2D work( painting) and 3D work(installation, sculpture) Actually,  when I did painting, I try to use pigment to make texture on the canvas.

Here are some works from the artist. Check the website to get more information.

According to this article, there is a difference in touch sensitivity between the sexes. Women are more predetermined to have more tactile sensation due to the size of their fingers, having their nervous system  more acute towards touch. This is because tinier fingers are more likely  to have their sensory receptors closer together, resulting on more/ and faster sensation. I found this article very interesting, due to the fact that not only our bodies are different, but the idea that a gender can be more susceptible to a sense is extremely interesting. 

Source: 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091215173017.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29

BlindArt

“BlindArt is a charitable organisation based in the UK whose aim is to encourage participation and interaction of the visually impaired in the sighted domain of the visual arts.”

                                                                               BlindART:http://www.blindart.net/

Jelly Balls

The Jelly ball is made raise bamboo sticks in house but it also use for decoration and maintain certain humidity. Before using this ball to decoration or whatever you want, you must soak them water for six hours.

The texture is interesting, because it feels like your touching a frog eggs. Visually, it looks pretty glass beans but the texture is slippery and slightly wet.

Touch Art Show

Ahmet Ustunel is a blind artist who talks about the frustration of going to an art gallery and not being able to experience the artwork through sight, the way it is intended, and not being allowed to touch it to experience it the way he learned to experience visual things. He organized a Touch Art Show that focuses on the sense of touch because he believes touch is "our most reliable sense". The work in the show is displayed in cardboard boxes, where it can be felt and not seen.

Touch Art Show

TOUCHES!!!

Touching of A Cute Mole
Understanding Sense of Touch

Creepy Touch =_=

Creepy Touch-More on the Funny Side

The first video I saw was about a Mole that was cute to me... so I posted it. Plus you can see how it feels and touches things to shape form in his mind.
The second video was more informative... which was less exciting for me , but useful/knowledgeable...

The Third video is a funny video for me... but very true.....(Its showing relations on a creepy side)
All three of these are inspirations for me for different ideas of projects I could do.