The St. Augustine Art Association (STAAA) continues its centennial with an art show that allows visitors to experience the magic of art in a tangible and exciting way.
Every October for more than 20 years, STAAA has collaborated with The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind and The Florida DeafBlind Association to present the annual “Tactile Art Show.” The exhibit will be displayed at the St. Augustine Art Association, 22 Marine St., St. Augustine, and online at staaa.org Oct. 4-27 during National Sensory Processing Awareness Month.
“In galleries and museums, we’re always told ‘Don’t touch!’ which is normal, except, what if you don’t experience visual activities the same way someone else does?” says Jennifer Flynt, executive director of STAAA. “With the ‘Tactile Show,’ all of the artwork is designed to be experienced through sight, but most importantly, touch, allowing viewers living with disabilities, especially those who are blind or visually impaired, to experience art using different senses.”
The Creating Tactile Art workshop will accompany the “Tactile Art Show.” Led by local artist Jenny Keyser, the three-day course will introduce innovative techniques that will help participants break free from the constraints of visual art. Keyser will show beginners and seasoned artists how to add dimension to a mixed media work to make it engaging for people of all abilities.
Creating Tactile Art will be offered 1-3 p.m. Sept. 11, 18 and 25. Workshop details and registration are available staaa.org/event/please-touch-creating-tactile-art.
The “Tactile Art Show” will be displayed at the St. Augustine Art Association from Oct. 4 through 27. The show will include pieces by students at The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. Artists of all ages, skill levels and backgrounds are invited to participate.
The Call for Art will become available mid-September, with online entries due by Monday, Sept. 30. Pieces will be judged for acceptance and awards. Artwork must be safe to touch and may not contain sharp edges. For information and exhibit updates, go to staaa.org/event/tactile-art-show.
The “Tactile Art Show” is sponsored by the Eye Center of St. Augustine and VyStar Credit Union, and in part by grants from the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council, the St. Johns County Cultural Council, the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida and Benjamin & Jean Troemel Arts Foundation.
PHOTO CUTLINES
Contributed photos
METAL
A metal tactile art piece
WOMAN
A woman experiences a tactile art piece.
HEAD
A tactile art piece
JAR
A tactile art piece
