[Nfb-krafters-korner] beeswax painting

[Cathy]

Hello all,

 

My sister, knowing I am a crafter sent this email to me. I thought it might
be of interest to the group, especially because this class will be offered
at the NFB convention this summer.

 

Cathy

To whom this may interest!

I am a professional Encaustic fine artist and painter for the blind and am
promoting a trip across the country this summer to teach the blind how to
read art using touch and to create art through touch.

Would you consider forwarding this message to any one or group you think may
be interested in us visiting? Please read further for more

info:

 

What I do for the blind is offer a way to experience, through touch, the
concept of art. Following the swell and flow of a wave series rushing
towards an island from the perspective of standing on the deck of a boat
offshore, for instance, is something my son has never felt through touch.
The concept of the horizon was lost on him until he felt the relationship of
an island to the clouds and sea. He understood how things get smaller as
they get further away by feeling how small the trees on the island were in
comparison with the scale of the clouds and ocean.

 

When I paint with pure bees wax mixed with pigment. Because the wax is so
tactile and resilient to constant, gentle touch, it made a perfect match to
me, for the blind. My son has Retinopathy of Prematurity and we marvel
everyday at the ways we have been blessed.

 

This summer we are attending the summer camp at Dogwood in Sherrills Ford,
NC.July 22 - 28. We are trading a week at the camp in return for teaching a
two hour class every day. Ms. Susan King is paying for our expenses for the
week to teach 15-20 students for two hours a day, so that we can show the
blind/Vi how to paint with bees wax and other materials. Each student will
create several tactile paintings to take home. Dalton, my son, is coming
with me, along with our service dog, Orsina. Our hope is to help give the
gift of art to those who are also blind.

 

If you think we can be of service to you over this summer please let us
know. We could make a trip to your city to teach or demonstrate to your
group. We will be travelling this summer, giving classes to the blind,
promoting an exhibition that will take a tactile exhibit to hosting Museums
in several cities across the country utilizing an exhibition that is no
longer on display at the Gibbes Museum here in Charleston. We are also
working on a DVD that will help guide dog teams protect themselves from
stray dog attacks and I am approaching Galleries for representation of my
artwork in cities that we visit. I will be funding our trip by giving
classes to local art guild members in the cities that we visit, as well as
non-profit classes to the blind. Our goal is to meet our peers, teach both
blind and sighted artists and budding artists how to paint with Encaustics,
promote art for the blind and obtain gallery representation so that we can
continue our work with the blind. We are not looking to make a profit, only
to fund our journey to the next group of eager students!

 

If you think of another group that would like us to visit this summer,
please consider passing on our information. So far our itinerary includes
Dallas, TX for the NFB Convention, NC, VA, DC, Boston, Maine, IL, MN, with
possible dates in Washington State and Oregon to be confirmed.

Here's hoping we get to meet in the very near future.

Danita Cole

www.danitacole.com