Sense-ational Art

Have you ever had the urge to just reach out and touch a piece of art? Come March 24, students at Concord University will be able to do just that. A tactile art show, put together by Concord University Professor Dr. Lauri Reidmiller and student Keri Svendsen, will be hosted in the Butcher Art Gallery for one week, opening at 6:00 p.m. on March 24.

 “Keri Svendsen was taking a class with me, and during my class I actually had her feel artwork that was created for a show when I lived back in Ohio,” said Reidmiller, “so I had her experience some of the artwork from that show and a conversation got started ‘why don’t we do a show here that is full tactile for all audiences?’ and that’s where the idea came from.” Artwork for the show is still being submitted and the full range of artists will include students at all levels, professors from Concord, and professional artists from out of state including Queen Brooks, Patty Kahn, Andrew Ross from Virginia who is attempting a 3-D photograph, a glassblower also from Virginia, and Eloise Philpot, who has created interactive mazes.

Artwork for the show is still being accepted, works in the show will be fully tactile and touchable, including paintings, found objects, sculptural pieces made of tissue paper, clay, and metal, and a tactile quilt among many other pieces. “We will ask that everyone just use a baby wipe to wipe their hands before they start touching the work,” Reidmiller said. “We do expect some damage, unintentional damage, but that’s just part of the touching experience, but we’re not going to deny anyone from touching it.” The show is meant to be all-inclusive, with all labels in large print and in braille and the art being hung lower than in traditional shows.