Imagine an art exhibition where what the art looks like isn’t that important.
"The Color of Blind is an interactive art show for the visually impaired," said Trina Bacon, the founder and curator of The Color of Blind.
“It’s a touch show where you can go and actually touch all the art pieces," she said. "The way the blind see is through touch.”
It's an odd concept to grasp, but once you make that leap -- realizing that the eyes aren’t playing a role -- it gives the concept of an art show a whole new meaning.
“I have stone sculptors, ceramists, fine painters who paint using encaustic wax so that it has texture," Bacon said. "It’ just a fantastic show with over 40 artists participating. Some of these art pieces the people even incorporate a smell.”
The art show she’s referencing is conceived for the blind, but not just the blind.
“It’s also for special needs children as well," Bacon said, "and has lots of benefits for everyone, including even small children.”
Imagine the stress falling away when you take kids to an art show where you don’t have to keep them from touching.
“The show is actually held at a gallery called Mercury Project," Bacon said. "The days are going to be March 29 and Sunday, March 30. It’s absolutely free."
The idea of creating art not so much for the seeing as for the feeling came to Bacon in a roundabout way. She’s an artist.
“I love to work with fabrics and with clay because of the feel and the texture and it dawned on me that this would be fantastic for people who are visually impaired," Bacon said.
This isn’t her first art show tailored for the blind. After the last one she heard variations on this from several people:
“A lot of them (blind people at the show) came to me and said, 'Thank you so much. This is the first time I’ve ever been able to experience an art show,' " Bacon said.
- Learn more about the Mercury Projecy Gallery at: www.mercuryproject.net
The Mercury Project is located at 538 Roosevelt.
