Art

Portland Art Museum Tactiles (2024)

After a warm reception for my first collection of tactile pieces at the Portland Art Museum, I had the opportunity to create two additional tactile pieces for traveling exhibitions visiting the museum.

Skeleton & Roses, Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelly (1966)

Skeleton & Roses Details

Work in Progress Journal - Skeleton & Roses

Original Grateful Dead Poster. A red banner with the band's name hangs above a skeleton surrounded by roses
Finished tactile graphic version of poster with numerous tactile layers depicting various elements of the original piece
detail of skeleton upper body
detail of lower banner
detail of wreath and lower skeleton
Mini version of poster with braille labels of text

The final piece is accompanied by a smaller version of the tactile graphic with braille labels for all of the text found in the original poster. In addition to providing a braille transcription, the smaller graphic also helps readers receive a quick overview of the full image, which can help them interpret the larger graphic.

Original photo. Dresser in foreground with mirror. Reflection of Paul snapping photo in the mirror. Dresser has miscellaneous items with reflection on dresser surface
Final tactile version in slanted stand. Paul McCartney Self-Portrait in mirror
Detail showing Paul in sunken down area, separating reflection from foreground seen. Various tactile levels shown on Paul's portrait
Detail of Paul's face, showing raised areas for the eye, hair, and lit portion of face
Final 3D piece shown from side to show angle of stand and depth of tactile elements
Photo of McCartney tactile placed at the entrance of the McCartney photo exhibit in Portland. A large version of the original photo hangs above the piece

Portland Art Museum Tactiles (2023)

In 2023, I was asked by the Portland Art Museum to create tactile versions of four pieces in their permanent collection. You can read more about the exhibit on the museum's Sensing Art page. I also wrote a short article about this project for Paths to Literacy. 

Photo of all four tactiles from 2023 installed at the Portland Art Museum. Wall panels behind the display provide additional information about the pieces

Wait and See, 13.12, f&d cartier (2013)

Wait and See, 13.12 Details

Photo of Wait and See 13.12 original piece. 3 rectangular pieces of photographic paper, varied in size and color
Tactile version of Wait and See 13.12. White background with raised black border. 3 rectangles of different sizes and colors are at different heights
Large view. Tactile version of Wait and See. White background with raised black border. 3 rectangles of different sizes and colors are at different heights
Detail of Wait and See tactile. The red center cube has a slightly textured surface with bits of brown around some edges
Detail Wait and See tactile. Relative height between cubes is shown

Aks (Water), Kari Morgan (2021)

Aks (Water) Details

Photo of Aks (Water) by Kari Morgan. A swirling wave is painted in two blue tones on a wood background
Tactile version of Aks. Light and dark blue waves swirl across the large, square, two-toned wood background
Detail of Aks. Close up of a curve on a wave with differing heights between light and dark colors, far above the wood-textured background
Detail of Aks. The top wave curls out from the center wave. A narrow hole at the center of the top wave shows the depth of the piece above the background
Detail of Aks. Nesting oval shapes in dark blue are raised above the swirl of the light blue wave

Monstro the Whale, Thelma Johnson Streat (1940)

Monstro the Whale Details

Photo of Monstro the Whale, a small tapestry with earthy colors. A large, red whale on a light blue backdrop with tan corners and white fringe
Tactile version of Monstro the Whale. The whale is the tallest feature, with two toned waves and a multi-color plant behind
Large view. Tactile version of Monstro. The whale is the tallest feature, with two toned waves and a multi-color plant behind
Detail of Monstro. Multiple heights are used to show a variety of details on the whale, as well as the oval backdrop and fringe
Detail of Monstro. The plant is raised slightly above the waves behind. Different heights are used for colors of the plant

Watermelon Portraits, Christine Miller (2022)

Watermelon Portraits Details

Watermelon Portraits original. A water colored slice of watermelon with gray backing. Text below “liberation”. 2 large seeds are at the center, and a small bite has been taken from the top
Tactile version of Watermelon Portrait. A large piece of watermelon above print and braille text. 2 seeds are raised above the watermelon surface
Detail of Watermelon. The slice of watermelon is mounted on an angled surface to mimic the visual perspective in the original
Detail of Watermelon. Side view showing a 3-color rind connected to a translucent red watermelon. Red-black ovals encircle the seeds
Detail of Watermelon. Close up of bite taken out of the top. Grooves dip into the watermelon forming a crater at the top

MC Escher Puzzles

Circle Limit IV (Heaven and Hell), 1960

Mosaic I, 1951

Created as puzzles so that shapes can be explored individually and as a whole.  By printing the light and dark pieces at slightly different heights, the complete image can be easily explored.

Circle Limit IV 3D printed puzzle with silver frame, black and gold pieces
Mosaic I 3D printed puzzle with black frame, gold and silver pieces

Louis Wain

Kaleidoscope Cat III

The cat at the center of this piece is lowest surface with details of the cat's fur and face slightly raised. A jagged, repeating outline radiates around the cat. These radiating lines are raised to various heights so that the pattern can be explored tactilely. The various heights also allow for printing with multiple colors. This print has 8 different colors.

Kaleidoscope Cat III multicolor 3D print
Kaleidoscope Cat III close up to show raised lines

Cat

A simple image of a black cat on a white background with a Louis Wain signature.

Cat 3D print signed Louis Wain

Theo Van Doesburg

Dancers, 1916
Dancers 3D print in multiple colors

Wassily Kandinsky

From Kandinsky's book, Klange, 1913
Klange 3D print with multiple colors

Pablo Picasso

Woman Sitting in Armchair, 1962
Woman Sitting in Armchair 3D print