[Artists-making-art] Artists-making-art Digest, Vol 16, Issue 3

Laurie Porter free.spirit1 at live.com
Fri Feb 7 00:07:17 UTC 2014


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Subject: Artists-making-art Digest, Vol 16, Issue 3

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: making art (Patricia C. Estes)


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Message: 1
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2014 10:15:56 -0500
From: "Patricia C. Estes" <pece03 at gmail.com>
To: "An exploration of art by and for blind persons"
<artists-making-art at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Artists-making-art] making art
Message-ID: <6E27EDBAA32746B5B86349C75477666D at Wellness>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Again, thanks for this info...will see how to get on the Crafters' Corner 
list serve.
Patty
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Lynda Lambert
  To: An exploration of art by and for blind persons
  Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 8:38 AM
  Subject: Re: [Artists-making-art] making art


  Hi Amy and Patty,

  This conversation is for anyone who is interested in participating, Amy.

  Patty, I did not realize I had sent out the list email address to Kirsten 
Ervan  who runs the Touch Art program, so she was not able to respond - I do 
think you have to be on the list to respond and participate - which makes 
sense.  In the event that there are some folks here who can see a bit via 
use of Zoomtext or some other program like that (this is how I see things on 
the computer) I will attach a photo of me with a piece of my work and a copy 
of a recent article.  The photo appeared in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review 
newspaper a couple weeks ago, along with a story on the Touch Art Seminar 
where I was one of the panelists.  I am not involved with the program, 
except for doing a discussion at the seminar, but it is a very wonderful 
program that  brings sighted and blind people together to make art and have 
fun in the process.

      Amy, there is another list through NFB that you may be interested in 
contacting, too. It is the Krafters-Korner group, and through that group 
blind people can learn how to do just about anything in arts or crafts you 
may want to do.  They teach classes through conference calls - which is 
amazing. I taught several classes this way for the group - I taught an 
Intro. to Pottery, and several hands-on pottery making courses. It was fun 
for all of us.  I have also taken a number of courses with the group, too. 
So, look them up and see what might be there for you to learn.

      There are also "tools" that can enable blind people to draw - there 
are so many things available for learning how to make art through tactile 
means - that group can give you lots of additional information on it all.

      I will be a speaker at the "President's Conference on Disabilities and 
Inclusion" at Slippery Rock University of PA in March. I will do  two 
different presentations at this conference.
  Presentation Number One:  Myths of Blindness: Next Steps to Recovery and 
Rehabilitation.
  Presentation Number Two:  Vision and Revision: Making Art with Limited 
Sight, Not Limited Vision.

      As part of both of the presentations,  I will have a display of my 
art, both pottery and mixed-media fiber works.
  And, of course, I will have some pieces that are "in-process" so that the 
people attending can understand how I work non-visually and/or with 
technologies to produce my work.  And, I will talk about the possibilities 
that are taking form for artists who  are blind, exhibition opportunities, 
and how they can have a very creative and satisfying life in the arts.

      I'd be interested in hearing stories from others  who are making art 
and exhibiting in galleries or museums, too. Art is about communication and 
this is how we communicate through our gifts in art, by showing what we do 
and bringing others into our world through the work of our hands.  I do 
believe, as Patricia has said, that art is a common ground where everyone 
can meet - and everyone can enjoy.  And, yes, Patty, you mention the pure 
magic of it all - that is what I feel, too. I say, 'My art is pure magic. 
Come and have an experience for yourself when you enter the gallery."  My 
sight loss has only intensified my love of art, and in many ways, has 
expanded it and made it even richer and deeper.

  Love hearing from you all!
  Lynda





    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Amy Ragain
    To: An exploration of art by and for blind persons
    Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 10:42 PM
    Subject: Re: [Artists-making-art] making art


    sorry to butt in here but I have been following along with your convo. I 
wish you guys could somehow teach me what you do. I used to love to draw 
when I was younger. now I can't see well enough to do or so I thought 
anyway...
    anyway, perhaps the motterator can tell me if I'm correct or not but I 
don't think you have to be a member of the NFB to message the list. I 
thought you only had to join the list.

    On Feb 1, 2014, at 8:31 PM, Patricia C. Estes wrote:


      Good evening,
      Art in all forms is just plain fascinating. You are kind to ask me 
about how I became "inspired." But first...

      I didn't know one had to be in NFB to be on this list. Too bad-for 
NFB! I am so glad that Suzanne tried to reach out to me-have her try my 
personal email:
      pece03 at gmail.com

      I, too, have Stargart's and was found to be legally blind by age 
eleven. But before that I was far-sighted and can recall that. I think the 
way to describe my vision, now at age 60, is that it is like an 
Impressionist painting-it has gone from like a Renoir to more washed out 
like a Monet (who they now think had RP). I would be so pleased to speak 
with Suzanne, and you, too-but you are pretty busy!
      Linda, I have a conference call number that I have used for my 
Holistic Healthcare & Psychology business and if you ever want to talk as a 
small group, it is no problem to use that line.

      Our daughter-in-law's family is from Scranton, is that anywhere near 
your exhibits coming up?

      I think art, details and writing is just in me. But it didn't hurt to 
have a self-taught artist and art teacher for a mom! All four of us kids 
produced several pieces through our up bringing just as a part of normal 
activity in the house. Mom taught me by age five or so about drawing 
perspective by using a square with a point on the horizon line to draw a 
barn-kids find those "tricks" fascinating! Then to corral us all and slow us 
down, she would put a piece of paper in front of each of us. Then she would 
draw three lines of varying styles  on our paper and tell us to make a 
picture out of it and sometimes she would time us. These were our games with 
her-no Candyland, thank goodness.
      Art pencils and erasers were always around and I still had quite a bit 
of vision and loved to sketch and would draw a portrait from a photo, sketch 
dried oak leaves but mostly spent hours daily drawing fashion design. I went 
from realism to the minimalist and suggestive lines of fashion. I didn't 
want to go through all of the intro art at the Liberal Arts college (Colby) 
I went to-"The History of Art" was a staple on our coffee tables and often 
part of discussion-especially as Mom lectured on art appreciation and had a 
fun way to take apart the Mona Lisa and then reconstruct the genius of it, 
in spite of the ill proportioned body parts.
      I say it was  all a part of me because when my dad (Yankee that he 
was) suggested making money with art talents (He told us to paint rocks and 
the tourists would buy them...what a silly thought! and it sounded like 
work...the selling part.) and when my English professor suggested that my 
writing could be published, that sounded like work, too. I just do what I 
do. Sharing what I do for the fun and love of it is entirely another thing.
      Now, as I have returned to art with much less vision, I am sorting out 
what it is that I do. I like working with mica, spraying paint and discover 
lots of uses for doo-dads like feathers and sand paper and old lace and 
pressed flowers. But would love to work with large clumps of oil paints!

      Linda, I can't imagine losing sight so suddenly. What you are doing is 
an illustration not only of your spirit, but also of the creative drive. I 
certainly agree with you that most people do not think of things like 
artists do or even those who appreciate art do. Everything around us is 
magical. Painting a sky at sunset the way it is truly playing out...well, 
people would find the painting or image unbelievable. Nature is the Master 
Artist. And seeing balance and composition in every day life is such fun and 
no accident.. It just all shows up as a gift!! And then there's textures, 
textiles and a whole 'nother email!

      OK...enough. I have no formal training and would not know how to do a 
Touch Art sort of event and guide people through. But the concept is 
irrestable! It would be great to have an art class in the large room at the 
center. It is wonderful how you describe the sighted and the blind mingling 
at an exhibit and how you are bringing art into hospitals...Do you really 
think that the person in the next bed will turn down their TV??

      I am exited about our discussion and know that there are no 
coincidences-like Suzanne and I both having Stargart's, for one thing. I do 
feel a sense of urgency because of the MS, but art and the peace that it 
brings for me are my passion and can keep me in the game. (oh, y'know after 
family, my faith and all that!) But what if art is the way to common ground 
and a level playing field between sighted and blind?? This is most 
exiting-Tipping Point exiting!

      Off to bed with a head full of ideas!
      Patricia Estes/Patty
      207 344 8292



        ----- Original Message ----- 
        From: Lynda Lambert
        To: An exploration of art by and for blind persons
        Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 5:52 PM
        Subject: Re: [Artists-making-art] making art


        Patricia, my friend tried to send you a note but it was rejected by 
the source as she is not a member of NFB. If you should want to talk with 
her, I can give you her phone number or else you could send her an email 
with her address.

        I think it's so interesting that you have always made art and had a 
life-long interest in art. It's so very different than what most people 
would think about, isn't it.
        She does not have a personal website. This will be her first 
exhibition of her art work, ever!  She has never participated in anything 
like this before.

        I think the way she is making the art is not tactile at all because 
she uses a CCTV to do it. That would indicate to me that she is working 
visually, but she is intentionally making some of the paintings tactile so 
that people with sight loss can feel the images in them.  She has stargardts 
disease, so have been very gradually losing her sight over many years.  She 
has just been diagnosed about a year ago as being "legally blind" so she 
still had a lot of vision, sees detail and color very clearly, she says.  I 
would be at the opposite range of the scale as I am about two steps away 
from completely blind. My sight was lost very quickly, with Ischemic Optic 
Neuropathy - that means something happened to make my optic nerve swell and 
shut off oxygen to the brain and made me blind nearly instantly.

        All of my pottery is made non-visually from beginning to end. I have 
help with mixing my glazes - my hubby helps me with that.  And, he helps me 
when glazing to be sure that glaze has gone where I expected it to be.

        How did you begin drawing?  what inspired you to begin doing it, as 
a child? Can you talk a little bit about how it all began and how you 
experienced it during the process of art making? I am so interested in 
learning more of what you do, Patricia.

        Lynda
          ----- Original Message ----- 
          From: Patricia C. Estes
          To: An exploration of art by and for blind persons
          Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 2:21 PM
          Subject: Re: [Artists-making-art] Introduction


          Linda,
          wonderful new venues (hospital/therapy settings) to appreciate art 
and artists and the Inner Artist in each person.

          Does your partner in these two exhibits, Suzanne, have a web site? 
I am curious how she uses paint in a tactile way.

          Your "story" is inspiring. My dream was to go to art school, but 
growing up blind in Maine, I was told that "blind people can't do 
art"...even though I was drawing with different leads, charcoal, etc for 
hours daily. And now, as I come back to my art (which had gone the oil on 
canvas route and now I "stick stuff to stuff", as you know), I have been 
diagnosed with MS.
          I take courage in your energy and persistence and imagination and 
that you see clearly the spaces in daily life for beauty and creativity.

          Patty Estes
            ----- Original Message ----- 
            From: Lynda Lambert
            To: Heather Kirkwood ; An exploration of art by and for blind 
persons
            Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 9:10 AM
            Subject: Re: [Artists-making-art] Introduction


            Hi Heather,
            Wish you were near here, too!
            Suzanne Gibson and I are working on two exhibitions for this 
year - they are scheduled to be in western Pennsylvania.

            Exhibition Title:  Vision and Revision: Two artists with limited 
sight, not limited vision.

            Suzanne Gibson:  Paintings on canvas (tactile)
            Lynda Lambert:  Pottery (Tactile) and Mixed Media Fibers/Bead 
Working (Visual)

            Show one:  Merrick Art Gallery, New Brighton, PA
                    March 7 - April 3
                    On March 22, we will be in the gallery making art and 
will have a "meet the artist and demo"
                    At the opening reception, we will do a short "Artists 
Walk Through" of the show for people - each of us will talk about 2 
of the works we have created for the show.

                On another afternoon, I will meet with students in the 
"Women in the Arts" course, at Geneva College.
                I was the professor who created this course and taught it 
before my retirement six years ago.
                I will meet the class in the gallery.  My discussion will 
focus on three aspects:
                 historical context of the work in the show;
                blindness issues and art making;
                philisophical influences, personal world view,  and concepts 
that shape my work.


            The Second Show will be in a very different kind of space. It 
will be in  Jameson hospital, New Castle, PA in a brand new wing that has 
been created for urgent care.  When the rchitects designed this place, they 
planned for an exhibition space for artists that would bring in healing art. 
The shows change every three months.
            The show will be on display from April 14 - July 5th.

            The format will be the same for the opening reception, and the 
artist's demo mid-way into the show's run.


            For both of these shows we will have Braille labeling along with 
the regular wall text (thanks to the great advice I just got from Ann!

                We will have a video of the two artists - with their work in 
progress and showing time lapse of the work being created to the finished 
product.  For the video we have written some very short essays and poems 
about art, sight loss, and doing the work.  In the background of the video, 
you can hear the stories of the artists and the works. This way a blind 
person can get insight into the work even when they cannot see the work 
visually.  They can not only experience the making of the work, the finished 
pieces, but the thought process of the artist during creation of the work.

            The video will run on a loop in the gallery, and will also be 
playing on small screens in other places for visitors to stop and have a 
look and listen to the art/artists.

            One of the venues I am brainstorming with plans to have my 
ehxibition available to all patients in the hospital (that is not yet built) 
via their TV screen. So even if they are bed fast and cannot come into the 
gallery space, they can still visit the show through technology.  That is in 
the planning stages but not for a year or two following completion of the 
building.  You know, 50 percent of all new construction of Hospitals is 
including art galleries - this is a new way of thinking about art, isn't it. 
People are recognizing that art has healing powers, and that people who are 
sick and those who are discouraged can be uplifted and even helped in the 
healing process through experiencing art.

            Lynda


              ----- Original Message ----- 
              From: Heather Kirkwood
              To: An exploration of art by and for blind persons
              Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 4:49 PM
              Subject: Re: [Artists-making-art] Introduction


              This work is so exciting. As you all get these shows 
organized, please let us know! I'd love to advertise them to my membership 
if they are open to the public. Wish I was in the areas myself so I could 
go - grin!

              Heather Kirkwood
              Vice President/Chief Communications Officer
              Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Network
              One South Road
              Oyster Bay, NY 11771
              1 (800) 789-9HPS
              www.hpsnetwork.org

              Personal blog: www.heatherkirkwood.blogspot.com

              Search the Web at www.goodsearch.com and choose the HPS 
Network as your charity!

              HPS New York Conference - March 7 - 9, 2014



              On Wednesday, January 22, 2014 3:06 PM, Lynda Lambert 
<llambert at zoominternet.net> wrote:

              I am connecting you three to each other via this email as I 
think there is mutual interest and information you may each have for sharing 
with each other.

              Kirsten and Tirzah are the founders, owners,  and coordinators 
of the Creative Citizens Studio in Pittsburgh, PA. they coordinated the 
Touch Art Seminar, a series of workshops that brought blind and sighted 
people together last fall, to make art, at one of Pittsburgh most notable 
art institutions. It is a very successful endeavor.

              Patricia Estes  is working on creating blind friendly 
exhibitions at a couple of galleries/museums in Maine, and she is connected 
with the National Federation of the Blind, Baltimore, MD.  She recently 
contacted me with questions about the Touch Art Seminar after seeing the 
Tribune Review article - so I think she would love to have more 
conversations with you both since you have the answers!

              This is so exciting on so many levels!

              Lynda


              Lynda McKinney Lambert, MFA
              Artist, Educator, Author
              104 River Road, Ellwood City, PA 16117
              http://www.lyndalambert.com/wordpress



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