Visitors with visual impairments had the opportunity to experience how the sense of touch can enrich their appreciation of art through this exhibit.
Beyond Sight: African Art Touch Gallery encouraged visitors of any level of sight to discover African sculptures and masks through their sense of touch. Inspired by African Art, African Voices: Long Steps Never Broke a Back, concurrently on view in the Ingram Gallery, this exhibition allowed visitors to explore art objects and materials from various cultures of sub-Saharan Africa. Normally, in order to protect artworks from damage, visitors are not permitted to touch paintings and sculptures in museums. For the purposes of this exhibition, eleven African art objects were provided so that visitors could discover through touch the expressions and materials of the works as well as their forms, scales, and textures. Visitors were encouraged to touch the objects in this exhibition!
This was the first exhibition the Frist Art Museum designed specifically for people with visual impairment. For visitors who are blind or have low vision, each object was accompanied by information in Braille and large type. In addition, visual description tours were available for both African Steps, African Voices and Beyond Sight.
Beyond Sight: African Art Touch Gallery encouraged visitors of any level of sight to discover African sculptures and masks through their sense of touch. Inspired by African Art, African Voices: Long Steps Never Broke a Back, which was on view in the Ingram Gallery, this exhibition allowed visitors to explore art objects and materials from various cultures of sub-Saharan Africa. Normally, in order to protect artworks from damage, visitors are not permitted to touch paintings and sculptures in museums. For the purposes of this exhibition, eleven African art objects were provided so that visitors could discover through touch the expressions and materials of the works as well as their forms, scales, and textures.
This was the first exhibition the Frist Art Museum designed specifically for people with visual impairment. For visitors who are blind or have low vision, each object was accompanied by information in Braille and large type. In addition, visual description tours were available for both African Steps, African Voices and Beyond Sight.
