Shining light on Art history and Art appreciation for

Students with Vision Impairments

How has the Statewide Vision Resource Centre (SVRC) Support Skills Program (SSP) Art sessions shed light on the often intangible world of ‘Visual’

Art?

Michael Donnelly

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ACloseEncounter

Image: BrettWhitely “Self Portrait” oil and collaged elements on canvas, Collection: AGNSW.

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YourFirstCloseEncounter?

Image: In Melbourne - Frederick McCubbin, ‘The Pioneer’, 1904, Oil on canvas, NGV.

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YourFirstCloseEncounter?

Image: In Brisbane –Mrs Marj Drohanwith Richard Godfrey Rivers, "Under the Jacaranda", Oil on canvas, Collection: QAGOMA

TheSVRCArtRoom

Byastudentwhouseslargeprint

Image:EntrancetoSVRCArtRoom

TheSVRCArtRoom

Images:InteriorofSVRCArt

Room

TheSVRCArtRoom

Images:LargeComputerFlatScreen,“old”CCTVforenlarging,sink&workbench,inSVRCArtRoom

Audio/visual-descriptionEnlargedimagesTactileimagesScalemodelsOnlineresourcesRelatedaudioExposuretomaterialsAwarenessraisingofcurrentexhibitionsFacilitatingspecialaccesstoArtExhibitionanddisplayofStudentArtwork

Strategiescaninclude:

Physicaldescriptions,WESSSTdescriptionmatrix,Story-telling

Audio/visual-description:

Image: Photo and tactile image of Marcel Duchamp’s “Fountain” sculpture, 1917, an enamelled, upside down, individual urinal.

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Definition:Puttingpicturesintowords.Toapproximatetheexperienceoflookingatart;toenabledialogueandinteractionwithart;toexcite,inspire,todoallthethingsartdoes.AnneHornsby,MindsEyeProfessionalDescriptionServices,

UK.

Image: Picasso Collage: Still Life of Bowl of Fruit with violin on Table

Audio/visual-description:

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Ananswertothequestion:

Howtoexploreartwork,especiallypieceswheretouchwon’thelp?

Mustinvolve• Collaborationwithpeoplewithwhoareblindorhavelowvision

• directdescription• powerfulmetaphors• poeticanddescriptive

Image: Picasso ‘Weeping Woman’ 1937Oil on Canvas, NGV.

Audio/visual-description:

W.E.S.S.S.T.Weight howheavy,heavierthan,lighterthan,sameweightas...Ends/Edges curved,flat,sharp,rounded,howmanysides,size

ofeachside.Size large,small,largerthan,smallerthan,samesizeas...,

howhigh,howlong,howdeep,howwide...Sound loudness,softness,highersound,lowersound,deeper

than..samesoundas..hollowsound,solidsound,soundstheobjectsmake whenhit

Shape square,circle/ular,rectangle/ular,boxetc,sameshapeas.Texture Soft,hard,smooth,rough,bumpyetc,whattheobjectis

madeof– carpet,glass,paper,etc

Audio/visual-description:

ElementsofArtandDesign1Line2Shape2Tone3Colour4Texture5Space6Form

PrinciplesofArtandDesign1Unity2Point,Line,&Plane(PLP)3Balance4Hierarchy5Scale6Dominance7Similarity&Contrast

8Movement9Rhythm/Pattern

Audio/visual-description:

Image: students in front of Fernand Leger mosaic, NGV.

laserprints,digital/screenimagesonPCandiOSplatforms,magnifiers,CCTV,highcontrast,alternativeviewingmodes;

Enlargedimages:

Image: screwdriver and washer enlarged under a CCTV.

Braille-embossedimages,PIAF(swell-paper)images,othertactileimageformats

Tactileimages:

Images: students studying tactile images of artwork on PIAF or swell paper, as well as mock-up replica art works.

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ArtHistorythroughTouchandSound(ArtBeyondSight&Amer.PrintHouse)SVRChassomebooks.Onlineprojecthasstalled.

Images: Cover of Art History through touch and sound plus part of Early 20th Cent. volume. AHTTS website homepage.

http://www.artbeyondsight.org/ahtts/

Tactileimages:

Scalemodels:

Image: Experiments in 3D printing by

researchers at Monash University partnering

with SVRC.

Replicasofpublicsculpture

Interactionwithdomesticandsmall-scalesculpture;

Scalemodels:

Image: students explore a Bruce Armstrong

maquette for a large scale sculpture at the

NGV.

Artapps,YouTube,Wikipedia,GoogleArtProject

Onlineresources:

Images: screenshots of the Tate Modern and Google Art Project websites.

Soundscapes,Music,Respondingtomusic

Relatedaudio:

Image:Markerdrawingof

BolerofromMoulinRouge

Drawing– toMusicinthemovies

StudentswithLowVisionusingSlantboardslisteningtomoviemusic.

Libertango fromFranticBolerofromMoulinRougeTheMissionTheme

Drawing– toMusicinthemoviesStudentwhousesbraille

usingRaisedLineDrawingKit

TheDarthVaderthemefromStarWars

DrawingBirdsbasedonsoundsfoundonlineattheBurrinja CulturalCentrewebsiteandthroughstudentgeneratedcallsrecordedandmixedonAudacity.

Bystudentswhousebraille

Artmaterials,image-relatedmaterials,relatedobjects

Exposureto/contactwith:

Image: student studying a would sculptors mallet at the Bruce

Armstrong exhibition, NGV.

Currentexhibitions,LinkingArtmakingwithexhibitions;

Awarenessraisingof:

Images: promotional material for popular

public gallery exhibitions at the

NGV in 2016.

Artworksatpublicgalleries;ConnectionswithArtists;

FacilitatingspecialaccesstoArt:

Images: students encountering artworks by touch or via a camera on an iPad, and an artist, NGV.

StudentArtwork.

Exhibitionanddisplayof:

Images: student artwork on display during professional development days and special events at SVRC.

Themes:TheLondonOlympicsCeramics– SculptingwithSlabs

Glazingusingmaskingforblindstudent

Images:slab-builtfiguresbasedonArtDeco-style

postersfromLondonOlympics,bystudentswho

usebraille

Themes:TheLondonOlympicsCeramics– SculptingwithSlabs

Images:slab-builtfiguresbasedonArtDeco-stylepostersfromLondonOlympics,by

studentswhousebraille

Themes:TheBrazilOlympicsCeramics– GoldMedalsImages:claycircleswithappliedandimpresseddecoration,firedandpaintedgold,inspiredbytactileandenlargedimagesofBrazilOlympicandParalympicmedals.

Themes:Bullying– NoWay!Images:ProtestBannercreatedinverylargeprintandlargebrailleinspiredbyschoolscampaign andprotestartusingtext,especiallyworkofDavidMcDiarmid,AustralianGayActivistArtist.

Images:Postercardsbeingheldby

studentsspellingout:BullyingNoWay!

TakeaStandTogether!

Themes- TheNightSky:Drawing– Scratching

Images:TactileimageofStarryNightbyVanGoghandscratchpicturebyastudentwhousesbrailleandlargeprint

AncientEgyptian:Ceramics– Modellingwithpinch-pots

Images:FourEgyptianFuneraryCanopic JarswhichinspiredCeramicbirdsbyamixofstudentsusingbrailleorlargeprint

AncientEgyptian:Plaster– Modellingwithplasterbandage

Student“mummifying”ateddybearusingModroc.

Use“Modrock”toemulatemummificationandprovideanexampleofEgyptianartandculture

Pre-Columbian:Aztec&MayanArt:3DModels

Image:ResinmodelspurchasedfromMelbourneMuseum

Pre-Columbian:Aztec&MayanArt:Ceramics– Hand-buildingtileswithSlabs

Image:Glazedtilesbyblind&lowvision

students

Pre-Columbian:IncaArtMetalwork– EmbossedAluminium

ImageEmbossedaluminiumby2studentswhousesbrailleand1whouseslargeprint.

Images:ExhibitfromNGA,Canberra,2014.

CelticArtlink:Ceramics–Hand-buildingwithCoils

Image:OpenCoiledPotbyastudentwhousesbraille

Image:CelticKnotdesignsusedfortactileimages.

VienneseArt&Design:

Images:TactileimagesbasedonartworkfromViennaArt&Design,NGV,2011.

VienneseArt&Design:Ceramics– Hand-buildingwithSlabs

Images:Processofmakingclaywork basedonartfromViennaArt&DesignexhibitionatNGV,2011.

Images:sculpturesby

Claes Oldenberginspiredplastercastbasketsof

fruit.

PopArt(Claes Oldenberg)Casting– withPlaster

PopArt(GeorgeSegal)Casting– withcellotape

Images:sculpturesbyGeorgeSegalinspiredcellotape cast

objects.

AbstractSculptureModelling– withcellotape

SculpturesbyRyoSehata,Japan.

Sculpture– Carving:Michelangelo,Gaudier-Brzeska.

Images:gardenstatueofMichelangelo’s“David”and“Birdfish”sculptureandtactileimagebyHenriGaudier-Brzeska.

Sculpture- Carving:withpolystyrene

Sculpture- Carving:withsoapstone

ImagesSoapstonecarvinginprocessandfinalpieces.

JeanPaulGaultier /fashiondesign

Images:TactileImagesfromTheFashionWorldofJeanPaulGaultier:FromtheSidewalktotheCatwalkatNGV,2014

JeanPaulGaultier /fashiondesignTextiles– collage

Designsovertactilefashionfiguretemplatesbystudentswhousebraille.

Cubism– Painting

Images:ObjectsanddiagramsrelatedtoaPicassoStillLifepainting.

Image:PicassoCollage:StillLifeofBowlofFruitwithviolinonTable

Cubism– Sculpture

AboveImage:mock-upof

Picasso’sViolinSculpture,1915.

Image:Studentsworkingonenlargedpapersculptureexercise,basedonAGNSWactivity.

Cubism– Sculpture

Worksbytwostudentswhouse

braille

Workbyastudentwhouseslarge

print

Acubistviolin,basedonartactivityfromAGNSW

Pointillism

Images:ReplicaoilpaintingofdetailofpointillistpaintingbyPaulSignac,from“Radiance”exhibition,NGV,2012.

Pointillism

Images:3DPointillismusingplasticineonwiremeshinsteadofoilpaint,byonestudentwhousesbrailleandtwostudentswhouselargeprint

20th CenturyAbstractArtDrawing– Tape

Image:tapedrawingbyastudentwhousesbraille

Image:paintingbyPietMondrian

Images:3Dcardboardmodelandtactile

imageofworkbyIngeKing,“Wave”or“ForwardSurge”)

ModernArt– Sculpture

ModernArt– Sculpture

SculptureMaquettesinspiredbyworkofIngeKing(topleft)bystudentswhousebraille.

Image:TwostudentswhousebrailleandonewhouseslargeprintrespondtoanAiWeiWei artworkinvolvingacoathanger.

ModernArt- Dada...

DuchampProfile,AiWeiWei,NGV,2016.

Byastudentwhouseslargeprint

Images:asaspin-offfromAiWei

Wei/AndyWarholexhibition,students

investigatedanddrewtheteacher’s

bicycle.

ModernArt- Dada...Drawing- Bikes

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TouchAccessinRegionalGalleriesMcClellandRegionalGalleryandSculpturePark

Incl.SculptureSurveyShowheldeverytwoyears.

Heide MuseumofModernArtandSculpturePark

Images: Student who is blind investigating a Peter Corlett’s “Tarax Play Sculpture” at the McClelland Art Gallery + Sculpture Park.Adults investigating “The Seed” at Heide MOMA.

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SSPBigArtsDayOut2011SSP’sfirstvisittotheNationalGalleryofVictoria!TheNGVSculptureGardenisavailablefortouchaccessbypeoplewhoareblind,alongwithotherselectedsculpturesforthefirsttime!March,2011.

Images: Students prepared to enter the NGV and then investigate a marble bust of Alfred Felton while a conservator explains carving tools during the SSP visit in 2011.

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SSPBigArtsDayOut2011SSP’sfirstvisittotheNationalGalleryofVictoria!

Images: A student uses a monocular to look at the Great Hall Ceiling of the NGV and students exploring Willem de Kooning’s “Standing Woman” in the sculpture garden.

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SSPBigArtsDayOut2012

Images:StudentsexploringthepublicsculpturesinSwanstonSt,SSPArtBigDayOut,2012.

SSPvisitstheMelbourneCBDanddoesasculpturewalk. May2012

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SSPBigArtsDayOut2013SSPvisitstheNGV,May2013

Images: Students being prepared to enter the NGV; Model of NGV made from shoebox; students enjoying the NGV Great Hall Ceiling using iPad and tactile images while lying on the carpet.

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SSPBigArtsDayOut2013SSPvisitstheNGV,May2013

Images: Students experiencing Céleste Boursier-Mougenot ‘s

installation: Clinamen in the NGV foyer, and tactile image.

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SSPBigArtsDayOut2013SSPvisitstheNGVMay2013

Images: Students

exploring 20th

Century Sculpture in

NGV by touch and tactile

images

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SSPBigArtsDayOut2014SSPvisitstheIngeKingSculptureRetrospective,NGVAustralia,June2014

Images: Students exploring explore Inge King’s metal sculptures having been given permission by the 99 year old artist.

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SSPBigArtsDayOut2014SSPvisitstheIngeKingSculptureRetrospective,Images: and students check out Inge King’s large “Forward Surge” at the Vic Arts Centre, including tactile image and model.

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SSPBigArtsDayOut2015SSPvisitstheNGVSculptureGarden,May2015.

Images: students discover sculptures by Henry Moore, Willem de Kooning, and other artists.

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SSPBigArtsDayOut2016SSPvisitstheBruceArmstrong:“AnthologyofStrangeCreatures”,NGVAustralia,Sept2016.

Images: students explore the Bruce Armstrong exhibition assisted by Bruce Armstrong, along with Mrs Catherine Andrews, wife of the Premier, NGV Education staff, and tactile images.

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SSPBigArtsDayOut2016SSPvisitstheBruceArmstrong:“AnthologyofStrangeCreatures”

Images: students explore sculptures by

Armstrong on all 3 levels of the Gallery, including “Bête Noire”, and “Horse”.

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SSPBigArtsDayOut2016SSPvisitstheBruceArmstrong:“AnthologyofStrangeCreatures”

Images: Students were able to have touch access to big and small works, including, “The Guardians” and “Stretch”.

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SSPBigArtsDayOut2016SSPfollow-upinArtSessions

Images: Students reviewed what they had encountered at Bruce Armstrong show, inspected some very small wooden sculptures and followed Bruce’s suggestion that they try modelling their own hybrid creature (out of plasticine).

How has the Statewide Vision Resource Centre (SVRC) Support Skills Program (SSP) Art sessions

shed light on the often intangible world of ‘Visual’ Art?

Did you count the ways?

More is possible in theSVRC

Support Skills Programbut,

Also in schools . . .

Michael DonnellyArt Teacher

Support Skills ProgramFridays

Statewide Vision Resource CentreHeatherwood School

370 - 380 Springvale Road, DonvalePO Box 201 Nunawading 3131

Ph (03) 9841 0242 Fax (03) 9841 0878Mob. 0438 674 247

donnelly.michael.j@edumail.vic.gov.auwww.svrc.vic.edu.au

Thank you