[Art_beyond_sight_advocacy] newbie searching for advice on making community art shows accessible

Tue Sep 29 10:06:21 UTC 2009

HI Kestrell,

I just looked up some photos of other Arisia conventions. There seems to be
lots of performing arts, games played, informal set-ups.  Please let me know
what is planned this year. Maybe you can create some interesting interactive
accessible experiences.  Shirley

On 9/28/09 4:36 PM, "Kestrell" <kestrell at panix.com> wrote:

> Hi, Shirley
> 
> It is a science fiction convention to be held in mid-January, 2010.
> 
> The art show is a really big event at Arisia, and includes many visual media
> as well as multi-media such as sculptures, masks, jewelry, fabric sculpture,
> etc.
> 
> Everything at Arisia is volunteer run, but I am trying to find someone
> specifically with a strong interest in art. I expect this part will not be
> too difficult.
> 
> The entire convention draws about 2300+ attendees, but I am guessing that
> the audience for a described tour will be somewhere between ten and twenty.
> 
> There are a number of blind and low vision attendees who attend Arisia every
> year (approx. ten to fifteen who use Braille and large print programs) and
> at least four wheelchair users. I expect a handful of people would be
> interested in the tour just to learn how one is done.
> 
> Each year we have at least some artists who put up "Please touch" signs on
> their art, so I think there will be some tactile art for the attendees. Part
> of the tour would be about guiding people to these specific art works.
> Another aspect would be describing some of the more popular visual media
> works in the art show. You can tell which are the most popular works because
> the art is also auctioned off, and since interested buyers leave slips of
> paper near the works to document their interest and their proposed price,
> the slips of paper would indicate popularity.
> 
> The length of the tour should be less than an hour to allow people to get to
> the next panel or event but no less than an hour.
> 
> I'm not sure how many art works are in the art show each year, but I've
> walked through it with friends and it usually takes an hour or so.
> 
> Also, the art show coordinators are going to put a question on the
> questionnaires for the artists in the show asking if they would be willing
> to have people touch their work.
> 
> Kestrell
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Shirley Confino-Rehder" <scr at univdesign.com>
> To: "Art Beyond Sight Advocacy" <art_beyond_sight_advocacy at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 4:20 PM
> Subject: Re: [Art_beyond_sight_advocacy] newbie searching for advice on
> making community art shows accessible
> 
> 
>> I have created very a successful tour guide, will be glad to send it off to
>> you, and am instrumental in having eight different kinds of tactile tours
>> this month in Tidewater.
>> 
>> Tell me what you are looking for.  Do you want an interactive tour for
>> everyone, a tactile tour of ptgs and sculptures, how many attendees are
>> expected?  What are you thinking of?  Will you have volunteers as guides?
>> When will it be? What kind of convention is it?
>> 
>> Shirley Confino-Rehder
>> 
>> 
>> On 9/28/09 4:06 PM, "Kestrell" <kestrell at panix.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Hi, listers
>>> 
>>> I'mnew to this list and am hoping to get some pointers on making
>>> community art
>>> shows accessible.
>>> 
>>> I am heading the access services of a Boston area science fiction
>>> convention
>>> called Arisia
>>> http://2010.arisia.org/
>>> and one of the goals I have is to make the art show accessible. One
>>> specific
>>> element of this is attempting to organize a described tour of the art
>>> show.
>>> 
>>> Does anyone have any advice on how to create such a thing? I already
>>> haved the
>>> art show committee on board with the idea, but could use more specifics.
>>> 
>>> I am also hoping to locate an electronic copy of the book _Art Beyond
>>> Sight_;
>>> I requested that Bookshare attempt to acquire it, but they turned down my
>>> request because it is not for a class (I'm blind and a Bookshare member
>>> and
>>> volunteer). I would scan it myself but the book costs, according to
>>> Amazon.com, over $150.
>>> 
>>> Are there any less expensive books about making art accessible?
>>> 
>>> Thanks.
>>> 
>>> Kestrell
>>> Reading in the Dark
>>> http://kestrell.livejournal.com
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> cr
>>> %40univdesign.com
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Shirley Confino-Rehder cid, affil aia
>> www.univdesign.com
>> Chair, Norfolk Mayor's Commission for Persons with Disabilities
>> Chair, South Hampton Roads Disability Services Board
>> 757 625-0969 office
>> 757 513-4880 mobile
>> 
>> 
>> 
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>> strell%40panix.com
> 
> 
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Shirley Confino-Rehder cid, affil aia
www.univdesign.com
Chair, Norfolk Mayor's Commission for Persons with Disabilities
Chair, South Hampton Roads Disability Services Board
757 625-0969 office
757 513-4880 mobile