In Touch: A Hands-On Exhibition
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Have you ever wanted to touch the art at an art gallery or museum? Well, in this exhibition, you can!
Valley Art Center's exhibition, "In Touch: A Hands-On Exhibition" will be running from September 13 to October 23, 2024. This groundbreaking exhibition promises to captivate and engage all the senses, offering a truly inclusive and immersive experience for visitors of all abilities. Imagine stepping into a space where art isn't just seen but felt, heard, and interacted with in ways that transcend traditional gallery experiences. Supported by a generous grants from Community Fund Ohio and the Cuyahoga Board of Developmental Disabilities, "In Touch" is dedicated to breaking down barriers and making art accessible to everyone. This exhibition is a celebration of sensory exploration, designed with accessibility and inclusivity at its core. Whether you’re navigating through touchable sculptures, engaging with interactive installations, or experiencing audio-enhanced pieces, "In Touch" ensures that every visitor can connect with art on a personal and profound level. Don't miss this unique opportunity to explore art in a whole new way. Join us at Valley Art Center for an exhibition that redefines how we experience creativity, making it a must-see event for everyone in the community. |
Win an Original John Bramblitt Painting! Get your raffle tickets before Oct 23rd
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Thank you for coming to the John Bramblitt Art Talk and Demo!
On Friday, September 27th, John Bramblitt visited us for a special artist talk and demo. John's work has been a huge inspiration for In Touch: A Hands-On Exhibition. John is a blind artist coming all the way from Denton, Texas, and he’ll be sharing his incredible story and techniques. He has three presidential awards, his art has been sold in over 120 countries, and he's a groundbreaking figure, known as the world’s first blind muralist. It was an unforgettable evening!
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Watch this video of John's Art Talk & Demo! John's inspiring talk and the artwork he created during it blew everyone in attendance away. We’re thrilled to have him be a part of this exhibition, and it’s a unique opportunity for all of us as artists to learn how others create in totally different ways. It was a very special night! |
John Bramblitt's Biography
John Bramblitt is an artist living in Denton Texas, his art has been sold in over one hundred and twenty countries and he has appeared internationally in print, TV and radio. In 2017 John became the world’s first Blind Muralist as well as a Cultural Ambassador for the United States. He has appeared on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, ABC, NBC, FOX, Discovery Channel and BBC Radio and TV to name a few outlets, and he's been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Dallas Morning News and Psychology Today as well as designed the artwork for numerous magazine covers and even the artwork for major film productions. He's the subject of the award winning documentary shorts "Line of Sight' and “Bramblitt.” His work has received much recognition including the ‘Most Inspirational Video of 2008′ from YouTube and three Presidential Service Awards for his innovative art workshops. And John is blind.
Mr. Bramblitt is also the author of the award winning book, Shouting in the Dark. He currently works as a consultant for art museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Kennedy Center, and The Guggenheim, to name a few in developing programs that are designed to include everyone – no matter their ability or disability. John’s speaking, workshops and art have created opportunities to work with companies such as Delta Airlines, Samsung, Google, Coke, and Disney to name a few. John’s passion lies in working with non-profit organizations such as Lighthouse, Autism Speaks, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, National Multiple Sclerosis Society to name a few. John actually specializes in working with small grassroots non-profits and charities helping to meet their speaking needs while helping to raise funds at the same time.
While art was always a major part of John’s life it was not until he lost his sight in 2001 that he began to paint, and it was then that he says, “Art reshaped my life.” After losing his sight he felt disconnected from family and friends, alienated and alone. Suddenly John found himself living in a very dark world, and one without hope. But then something amazing happened-- he discovered painting. John began combining drawing techniques that he had used his entire life and started combining them with Orientation and Mobility (‘White Cane’) techniques where you learn to use your sense of touch to do the work your eyes used to do. He began creating a painting system using lines that he could touch and feel to help him find his way around the canvas, and developing techniques to be able to mix and control color without being able to see it.
Starting with simple geometric shapes and only 2 or 3 colors in his palette, John’s obsession with art only grew. Painting 14 or more hours a day 7 days a week John developed more and more techniques that led to the intensely detailed and brightly colored paintings that you see today. John developed advanced techniques to feel faces so that incredibly detailed portraits could be created through touch alone. John prefers to paint those he knows such as friends and family, but he has also included work on celebrities such as Jeff Bridges, Tony, Hawk, Lyle Lovett, along with other musicians and prominent figures whose faces are well known which give a glimpse to the accuracy he ‘sees’ with his hands.
John’s paintings are intensely personal, and are mostly taken from real people and events in his life. John’s workshops are unique in the art world in that they not only span the gap between beginning and professional artists, but also include adaptive techniques for people with disabilities. According to John, “Everyone has an artist somewhere in them; sometimes they just need a little help letting it out.”
Mr. Bramblitt is also the author of the award winning book, Shouting in the Dark. He currently works as a consultant for art museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Kennedy Center, and The Guggenheim, to name a few in developing programs that are designed to include everyone – no matter their ability or disability. John’s speaking, workshops and art have created opportunities to work with companies such as Delta Airlines, Samsung, Google, Coke, and Disney to name a few. John’s passion lies in working with non-profit organizations such as Lighthouse, Autism Speaks, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, National Multiple Sclerosis Society to name a few. John actually specializes in working with small grassroots non-profits and charities helping to meet their speaking needs while helping to raise funds at the same time.
While art was always a major part of John’s life it was not until he lost his sight in 2001 that he began to paint, and it was then that he says, “Art reshaped my life.” After losing his sight he felt disconnected from family and friends, alienated and alone. Suddenly John found himself living in a very dark world, and one without hope. But then something amazing happened-- he discovered painting. John began combining drawing techniques that he had used his entire life and started combining them with Orientation and Mobility (‘White Cane’) techniques where you learn to use your sense of touch to do the work your eyes used to do. He began creating a painting system using lines that he could touch and feel to help him find his way around the canvas, and developing techniques to be able to mix and control color without being able to see it.
Starting with simple geometric shapes and only 2 or 3 colors in his palette, John’s obsession with art only grew. Painting 14 or more hours a day 7 days a week John developed more and more techniques that led to the intensely detailed and brightly colored paintings that you see today. John developed advanced techniques to feel faces so that incredibly detailed portraits could be created through touch alone. John prefers to paint those he knows such as friends and family, but he has also included work on celebrities such as Jeff Bridges, Tony, Hawk, Lyle Lovett, along with other musicians and prominent figures whose faces are well known which give a glimpse to the accuracy he ‘sees’ with his hands.
John’s paintings are intensely personal, and are mostly taken from real people and events in his life. John’s workshops are unique in the art world in that they not only span the gap between beginning and professional artists, but also include adaptive techniques for people with disabilities. According to John, “Everyone has an artist somewhere in them; sometimes they just need a little help letting it out.”
Artist John Bramblitt.
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Visitor touching John Bramblitt's paintings.
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Valley Art Center is also collaborating with Clovernook to produce Braille labels for the exhibition, ensuring that visitors with visual impairments can fully experience the art. The Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center is providing input to enhance the accessibility of the exhibition for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
We invite the community to join us for this extraordinary exhibition that breaks down barriers and celebrates the sensory experience of art. For more information, please visit our website at www.valleyartcenter.org or contact Julie Polsinelli at [email protected].
Exhibition Dates:
September 13 - October 23, 2024
We invite the community to join us for this extraordinary exhibition that breaks down barriers and celebrates the sensory experience of art. For more information, please visit our website at www.valleyartcenter.org or contact Julie Polsinelli at [email protected].
Exhibition Dates:
September 13 - October 23, 2024
