QUOTATION

Simple as it may seem, when the lights go out, we simply lose our bearings. The density of the dark makes it impossible for us to fix our positions anymore. We find ourselves alone in the universe, untethered and unprepared. . . . Lightlessness leaves us no internal compass by which to trace or set our steps. Unlike [the] blind, few [sighted people] ever learn to develop our other senses enough to rely on them for information about the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Interestingly enough, it is those who consider themselves sighted who are most limited without light. And so, in the end, the [dimness] undermines the average [sighted] person’s self-confidence, affects their vision, leaves them totally vulnerable to the environment and out of touch with the people around them. And that is only its physical effects.Joan Chittister, Between the Dark and the Daylight: Embracing the Contradictions of Life (Image: 2015), 17-19.

(Quotation taken from https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgxwGBwbcJLngrqnMcpcnxWCJNftB )

I really must remember to ask the eye doctor about this when eventually I go to get my second cataract done - which could be a while in the future. I missed my chance when I got my first one done, was it January 2018 or 2019?

The World Moves on ....

I'm now almost 82 years old, and missed the chance to consult an eye-expert about whether or not doing my TOUCH VISION project for a month or so could damage my eyes.
I had had a cataract removed in a clinic outside Belfast, and was supposed to return afterwards for a check-up to make sure all had gone well. I planned to ask my question at that check-up visit.
But then it transpired that I had the option to have the check up done in Dublin by my own Optician, a much more convenient arrangement. The down-side was I never did get to ask the expert.

So, I allowed TOUCH VISION to fade into the background yet again.
But today, April 14 2019, the TED TALK touched on touch again.
Tech that helps you navigate by touch (advance the cursor if the start seems faulty)

Other videos along the same  kind of theme are:
how_new_technology_helps_blind_people_explore_the_world

design_with_the_blind_in_mind

making_a_car_for_blind_drivers

It is unlikely that I will go further with this project, but should I change my mind, at least I have these links to begin my research.
Meantime, if anyone else wants to try out these ideas, be my guest.

MEANINGS ....v1

Here is the first draft of some notes I'm preparing for the SDAF meeting June 26th, when they want us to talk about what we did on National Drawing Day. I will possibly add other thoughts as they occur to me.

I have more or less finished the video, but haven't yet been able to reduce it to a size for posting to YouTube.

DARK MARK – Some Meanings and Sources I’ve come up with.

SOURCES

·         Part of original idea is left-hand/right-hand struggle

·         Already fascinated with blind-folded work since Montessori days

·         Used blind-fold in BALANCE performance

·         Ideas (not realized yet) for TOUCH VISION see http://touchyvision.blogspot.ie/2010/08/preparatory-ideas_30.html

·         I continue to like the idea that all marks made by humans are unique – that judgements about one mark being ‘better’ – ‘nicer’ – ‘more meaningful’ than another are somehow less important than the sheer delight that I and everyone can make unique, never to be repeated marks, marks that are open to speaking to us differently every day, if we let them.

·         DARK MARK combines much of this thinking.

DURING-AND-AFTER-THOUGHTS

·         During the performance, I was like as if in a silent bubble – despite the considerable background buzz of conversation and music.

·         In this bubble, I was totally concentrated on making marks, and because I couldn’t see the effects/combinations of the marks, the doing became the focus.

·         The in between rest periods gave me a chance to see where there might be blank spaces I could add marks too, but very quickly, it was marks on top of marks.

·         In the end, the effect was very similar to what might be produced by a very young child, only beginning to explore the way they could make marks.

·         Afterwards, looking at the ‘piece’, I thought of how the six ten-minute sessions, each in a different colour marker, are layered. The result is that it is very difficult to differentiate one layer from another. To me this seemed like the way periods of time are layered, and how little I can separate one minute or period from another.

·         The audience participation was delightful for me – other people involved, yet not taking over – their minds and muscles working with my gloved hand – the glove reducing yet more the control I had over the marks I was making.

What I didn't like ...

All in all, I think it went fairly well. But there are one or two details I would change if I were invited to do the performance elsewhere. (Like all performance, doing it again, actually means doing a new version - an art performance can only be done once - which it distinguishes it from a theatrical performance which can be repeated.)

I would not use the architect's plan-paper. Although it was possible to see the act of drawing on the reverse side (visible as intended to the passing external audience), the material itself was too rigid, and the ink only remained on one side.  I need to find a source of very large newsprint so that the ink could 'bleed' and literally be present on both sides of the paper.

I felt the plan-paper I used didn't show the markers to their full potential. This is particularly evident in the video where some colours can hardly be seen at all.
Another issue with the markers was that if I held them at a certain angle, the line was so thin as to be invisible at any distance. Yes, I could have practised some more before the event, but for me, the essence of my performance is that it is unrehearsed, so that neither the audience nor myself know exactly what is going to happen. So I need to accept that this quality of the line is one of those unexpected incidents that are part of the event.

The video is reasonably OK, particularly for an unattended camera. However, I really need to identify a reliable camera-person, or even more than one, whom I could call on to video when I perform. Money is the problem of course - would there really be someone who would volunteer to do this, and do it reasonably well.

AFTERMATH -

Nearly a month has past since I did DARK MARK so what I write today will be reminicences rather than pure memories. Though having said that, I do have the video to remind me of what it looked like from the camera point of view.

Image thanks to ElizabethA

1. I felt a bit apprehensive to begin with, not knowing would anyone turn up, would they take part, or would it all be a damp squib.
But once I donned the blindfold and began the work, I entered my own zone, a place of inner silence and peace and focus. From there, I moved back and forth across the paper, and sometimes up and down, making marks.

2. When I was 'interrupted' by someone taking my hand to make their mark, at first I felt they were giving me a gift. After a while, I almost resented them interrupting my concentration, but in the end, I had a real feeling of them making the piece with me, and that was a great feeling.

3. Watching the unedited video afterwards, I was surprised at the level of background there was - not just the conversations of people nearby, but customers at the RuaRed cafe, and music from not far away - perhaps a group at rehearsal.

I didn't have a guest-book, so I can only guess who took part in the work - Which means I can't give them credit except here where I would like to say thanks very much for their help in adding life to what could have been a bit boring process. Special thanks to my husband Tony who was an efficient 'Artist's Helper'.

DARK MARK Day - May 18 2013

Crooked? Missing?

“The Way things are is the way they are supposed to be – for this moment!”

(Unknown quote)

ART is an invitation

(From the artist to the viewer)

To LOOK TWICE at something – ANYTHING

[e=mc] aka Elizabeth McGuire Cleary

Two quotes to inspire myself

LATER ....

Turns out I won't have technical assistance tomorrow - guy doesn't work week-ends.

Also turns out that only the 'hang-it-on-the-wall' exhibits will be staying up for three weeks. Mine is exclusively for Drawing Day.

Really glad I found this out in advance. Today's aim was to check everything so there would be no nasty surprises tomorrow.
Now it's 2256 - still a fair bit to do - could be one of those late nights!

Main thing is that paper and titles are on the window, markers are selected, blindfold and gloves are ready - the rest - even the video are extras.

Feeling calm and in control. I don't perform till 1400, so there's loads of time left ....

THE EVE of the DRAWING DAY 2013

National Drawing Day 2013 is tomorrow - It's very near the time now, and I'm getting excited, though inevitably anxious as well, worried in case I forget something, and 'spoil the ship for the hap'worth of tar'.

Hope all goes to plan.
RuaRed have obliged me by removing those signs and wires from the window. They want the work to be left on display for three weeks - I think that's great. I'm including my email address with the blurb, in case anyone feels like making contact.

I will write/draw for ten minutes, and then rest for ten minutes from 2-4 pm tomorrow Saturday May 18.

I'm using architects plan paper which is translucent, and so will allow the writing to be seen from the back as well as the front. Getting very large sheets of  newspring needed more effort than I had energy for.

The invite to participate reads as follows: YOU can move the artist’s hand (for 5 seconds) to make YOUR mark in the work. Hope people aren't too shy. The whole idea is that my marks will be so 'unskilled' on account of using my left hand, that other's will feel encouraged.

Not long now .....

More DARK MARK

Since I last wrote, I've been thinking more about what I want to achieve with this piece.
Ideas I want to convey:

• that all marks are to be honoured(no such thing as 'I can't draw'.
• That using my left-hand could facilitate right brain access (that is to creative as opposed to logical thinking(
• That being blindfolded helps me concentrate better.
• And being blindfolded also limits visual input in favour of touch input - privileges the hand over the eye.

I had a look at the space in RuaRed where the Drawing Day is supposed to be taking place. Well, actually it is the space where we can do something for the month (May 7 to June 3) around the National Drawing Day May 18.

I had thought that I would be able to put my paper on the window, but this may not be feasible as there are notices on display there more or less permanently.

So I've come up with a Plan B - to make a frame using the frame used for Porridge People all those years ago in Ballyfermot BCFE.
I need to experiment to see if this idea will work. I will see what I can get in the line of Newsprint paper. I fancy this because I think if I use thick markers it will bleed through to the outside where it can be seen by passers-by.

Only drawback I see it that Newsprint is somewhat fragile, so I think I will need to 'frame' it, possibly with Ducktape.

AFTERMATH
I am also thinking that it might be nice to photograph the image each day, and to produce two 'details' as photos to display in the space so people can see if they can find the details I choose.

DARK MARK

After all this time, I'm going to explore a bit of this idea of 'seeing with my hands'.

There will be a Drawing Event in Rua Red Art Centre in Tallaght  in Mid-May 2013 and I am planning to do a performance which I will call DARK MARK.

The idea I have is to draw blindfolded with my left hand on a very large sheet of paper. I will do perform mid-morning and mid-afternoon for the duration of the Event, probably about five days. Each 'drawing' will be layered on the previous one, possibly using more than one colour.
Viewers will be welcome to guide my hand to make their own marks.

This is not nearly so ambitious as the original idea of blindfolding for a month. Not sure now whether this would be feasible. Haven't yet found an expert to advise me about potential damage to my eye-sight - but then I'm not looking very hard.

NON-UPDATE

Not sure what to call an UPDATE that tells you that currently nothing is happening on this front.
The only thing that happened since I last made a posting is that I heard, probably on some TV or radio programme that having the eyes covered for protracted periods might cause damage to the sight.

I emailed some opthmologists website for further information, but heard nothing back.
Anyway, this project is on hold - there's a limit to the time and energy in my life. One project per year is my comment - and I find it nigh on impossible to stick to this.

Am going to start a blog today to talk about my current piece.Sometimes it is easier to go with the flow, and do the possible, rather than be constantly failing to reach the stars.

COLLABORATIVE ART - a bit dubious about is this for me!

In the throes of the course with CREATE, and by and large enjoying exhausting myself on a project in the Docklands area of Dublin.
'Collaborating' has aspects I find difficult - like dove-tailing with other people in terms of time and energy - but it's good self discipline.
I also find myself holding back my ideas, and considering them before I blurt them out - which might be no bad thing, but feels like a 'spancial' on my inner Child.

(I've looked up that word 'spancial' but cannot find it. I don't even know if I have it spelled correctly. my father and my uncle used to say they would have to 'spancial the chizzlers' meaning they would have to restrain the children when their spirits got to high.) Now I read that chizzler is now an uncomplimentary word for an Asian person. Amazing how language morphs.

Anyway, there won't be any move on this 'Seeing with my Hands' project at least until towards the autumn as the CREATE project exhibition is at the end of April, and I will want time to 'recover' before taking on this one - which I expect to be quite intense when it gets going. I'm realizing that the present idea of five weeks wearing a blindfold won't be a picnic.
Of course, there's no chance I could achieve this level of skill. I think this guy has just amazing ability.

NEW YEAR 2011 - New Start

Well, I said I was going to wait till the New Year to make a move on this project. So here I am on Twelfth Night, getting started again.

Not sure If I wrote before about the enquiries I made about joining the CREATE Learning Development Programme. (I had deliberately not taken up the offer to be involved in this while at NCAD, but decided I would benefit from it to explore my ideas about the TOUCH VISION - Seeing with my hands project.

Not having heard anything so far, I visited the CREATE office today and it has got me all enthused again.

 I love this image from the CREATE website - wonder can I buy one of these jackets.

There is information on the CREATE website. There is a link Introduction for student artists which is well worth reading to get an overview of what collaborative art is about.

There is also a series of videos to be watched.

The person I have to talk to is away till next week, but she might email me. Am starting to get excited. Hope it doesn't end in disappointment. Suppose I have to pay because I am not still at the college, and it turns out to be very expensive ....

Art Beyond Sight Book

I continue to read the book Sarah recommended. It is a great read, even if you only wanted ideas about the effects of Art education on the rest of the curriculum.
I am really enjoying it.
Details of the book are here: http://www.amazon.com/Art-Beyond-Sight-Creativity-Impairment/dp/0891288503. However, it is a bit expensive - over 70 Euros, and only a paperback. So finding it in the library is a better bet.

There is also a website about art for people with visual impairment athttp://www.afb.org/
and an online biography of Helen Keller at http://www.afb.org/mylife/book.asp?ch=HK-intro.



There is also a selection of videos on at http://www.youtube.com/user/artbeyondsight

Deciding not to Decide

Have decided not to think about this project for a while, to let the excitement of the recent exhbition  (RDS Collective Contemporary Arts Nov 5-7 2010) subsides.

Have also decided not to think specifically about this project until I have collaborators to work with, so that we can have an element of equality in the process.

I got a list of ideas from my friend Sarah, but I'm not going to read the list until I'm at the next phase of the project.

The only thing I am keeping in mind is that at this stage, my goal is to learn to see with my Hands.

Sarah also recommended I read Art Beyond Sight. I got it in the library on Tuesday, and find it excellent. However, it weighs several kilos I would say, so I have bought a small bag with wheels to carry it - small to make it difficult for me to add further weight.

PREPARATORY IDEAS

Can be done NOW
Write a PROPOSAL description

WHAT is the idea of this piece
WHAT will happen
WHERE will the action occur?
What PROPS will be needed?

Preliminary RESEARCH

Has this kind of thing been done before?
Who has done something like this?
Locate examples/images of similary work
Write up research

Plan some kind of TIMEFRAME

How long might it take to get funding
How long might preparations take

First
Second
Third
LASTLY

Identify MATERIALS and EQUIPMENT needed

WHAT?
WHERE?
HOW MUCH?

Apply for FUNDING if required

WHO?
HOW MUCH?

Can be done within next SIX WEEKS, but can't be done immediately
VENUE
ADVERTIZING
HELPERS
FINANCE NEEDS / ACCOUNTS

Can be done within next THREE OR FOUR MONTHS, but can't be done within next six weeks
Has to wait more LONG TERM - no definite date.
Organize VENUE
Contact participants
Information session

AFTERWARDS
Packing up
Cleaning up
Paying up
Thanks notes
De-brief session

Preparatory IDEAS

Touch Vision and is about seeing with my hands.

The IDEA
To learn form the experts (blind people) how to see with my hands.

Have mentioned this idea to Sarah Tuck in CREATE. She suggested that I apply for the special Research Grant that would give me the basis of a sound piece of work.

This image is from this website

There is also a facility to include MENTORING as part of the proposal, The could be very valuable. I have contacted Kathrine Atkinson with a view to setting up a meeting with her, so nothing will be done until then.

Can be done NOW
Won't do anything until I have spoken to Katherine

Write a PROPOSAL description
Plan some kind of TIMEFRAME
Identify MATERIALS and EQUIPMENT needed
Apply for funding if required

Preliminary RESEARCH

Has this kind of thing been done before?
Who has done something like this?
Locate examples/images of similary work
Write up research

Plan some kind of TIMEFRAME

How long might it take to get funding
How long might preparations take

First
Second
Third
LASTLY

Identify MATERIALS and EQUIPMENT needed

WHAT?
WHERE?
HOW MUCH?

Apply for FUNDING if required

WHO?
HOW MUCH?

Can be done within next SIX WEEKS, but can't be done immediately
VENUE
ADVERTIZING
HELPERS
FINANCE NEEDS / ACCOUNTS

Can be done within next THREE OR FOUR MONTHS, but can't be done within next six weeks
Has to wait more LONG TERM - no definite date.
Organize VENUE
Contact participants
Information session

AFTERWARDS

Packing up
Cleaning up
Paying up
Thanks notes
De-brief session