Feb 11: Create Art for a Blind Friend - stimulate all senses

Teachers: Ruwanmalee, Dasuni, piyumika, Suren

Can you make Art for a Blind person to enjoy?

Intro

  • Do you know anyone differently abled?- anyone who is blind/vision impaired?

  • Explain the importance of art as a means of communication and empathy.

  • Share the goal of creating art that stimulates all senses to engage with a blind friend.

Materials needed

  • Textured paper, fabrics, and other tactile materials, mesh, etc.

  • Scented markers or essential oils

  • Clay or modeling materials

  • Various objects with different shapes and materials (e.g., buttons, beads, threads, leaves, feathers)

  • Blindfolds (optional, for sensory awareness exercises only, to test their own work)

Visualization and Observation (20 minutes):

  • Start by discussing the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.

  • Encourage the children to close their eyes and imagine what it's like to experience the world without sight. What does each of them feel?

  • Ask them to think about how they can use the other senses to create art that can be appreciated by someone who is blind.

Making and Problem-Solving (40 minutes):

  • Provide a variety of art supplies such as textured paper, fabric, clay, scented markers, and various objects with different shapes and materials.

  • Instruct the participants to create artwork that engages multiple senses, focusing on texture, scent, and shape.

  • Encourage problem-solving as they explore ways to incorporate different sensory elements into their art.


Community Building (15 minutes):

  • Form small groups and have them share their artwork with each other.

  • Discuss the challenges and successes they encountered while creating multi-sensory art.

  • Encourage empathy and understanding by discussing what it means to create for someone with different needs.


Conclusion and Reflection (10 minutes):

  • Summarize the key points of the class, emphasizing the importance of empathy and inclusivity in art.

  • Discuss how they can use what they've learned to create art that stimulates all senses in the future.

  • Encourage students to reflect on the experience and share their thoughts and feelings about the class.

This art class is designed to promote empathy, inclusivity, and creativity by encouraging participants to create art that engages multiple senses. It allows children to gain a deeper understanding of the needs of those with different abilities. By the end of the class, participants will have not only created multi-sensory art, but also developed a sense of empathy and a commitment to making art accessible to all.

Here’s some inspiration!

EXAMPLES OF FAMOUS BLIND/PARTIAL SIGHT ARTISTS:

  • Claude Monet (1840-1926) French Impressionist

  • Rembrandt Van Rijn (1606-1669) Dutch artist

  • Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) American artist

  • Edgar Degas (1834 -1917) French painter, sculptor

PROMINENT BLIND FASHION DESIGNER IN SRI LANKA (not aware of painters/artists):

  • Ashcharya Peiris - a blind Sri Lankan fashion designer who lost her eyesight in a suicide terrorist attack of the LTTE in 2000. After a bank career, she retrained as a fashion designer. She is also a motivational speaker to encourage others.

FACTS:

  • Sri Lanka has 690.000 blind and vision-impaired people, 350.000 or half of them have completely lost their eyesight

  • Cataract is the leading cause of blindness (mostly in older people) and accounts for almost 67% of overall blindness

  • The Ceylon School for the Deaf & Blind is located in Ratmalana 

Annette KlockenbuschComment