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Stone Sculpting: An Open Window to the Arts for Children and Adults Who are Blind or Have Low Vision

1. Learning objectives: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to
   1. Describe the benefits of the art of stone sculpting.
   2. Describe how to View sculptures.
   3. Describe the process of stone sculpting and the required adaptations.
   4. Describe the sources of tools and materials for sculpting stone.
2. What’s so special about stone carving?
3. How does one teach stone carving?
   1. Begin with the basic concepts as it is viewed
      1. What are form and shape?
      2. What are surface flow and energy?
      3. What are texture, firmness, and smoothness?
      4. What determines surface temperature and sounds?
      5. What is “frozen” action?
   2. What are the pre-requisite tool skills?
      1. Filing
      2. Sanding
      3. Sawing
   3. What are the steps in making a stone carving?
      1. Selecting a stone – Use soft Oregon soapstone (see resources)
      2. Choosing a figure – start simple, a simple monolith or a relief of a leaf.
      3. Drawing or scratching the figure in the stone – use a model for proportion
      4. Filing or cutting the “nonfigure” part of the stone away.
      5. Filing and rounding the figure
      6. Adding details – mouths, noses, etc.
      7. Sanding smooth – 60, 125, 200, then 400-grip sandpaper
   IV. Beginner’s resources
   1. Stone – See John Pugh in resource list for Oregon soapstone (He will send it UPS at about $1/pound
   2. Tools – At your hardware store You need: a 4in1 file, a curved file or two, a cheap hand jigsaw, and some sandpaper.
   3. Five pounds stone project Cost – $25!

Paul E. Ponchillia, Ph.D.
Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Paul.Ponchillia@wmich.edu
616-387-3449

Art Resources

Art Education for the Blind
Kyoko Tokunaga
935 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10021
(212) 879-5100
Email: toku@idt.net
Provides audio series of art history

Friends-In-Art of ACB, Inc.
Mike Mandel, President
400 W. 43rd. St. #20L
New York, NY 10036
(212) 868-0345
This is a subgroup of the ACB that publishes a newsletter entitled: "The Log of the Bridge Tender". It also holds annual art exhibits and performances at the ACB national convention.

Horizons for the Blind
HORIZONS FOR THE BLIND
2 North Williams Street
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
mail@horizons-blind.org
(815) 444-8800
www.horizons-blind.org
This organization produces adaptive art products and works with museums to make them accessible to individuals with visual impairments.

National Institute of Arts and Disabilities
Elias Katz director
551 23rd St.
Richmond, CA 94804
510-620-0290
www.niadart.org
Educational materials, information and referral Office of Special Constituencies

Endowment for the Arts
1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20506
Phone 202-682-5532
http://arts.endow.gov/
Provides information and technical assistance to artists, art organizations and consumers concerning accessible arts programs and other federal programs that support cultural activities.

InSights Art
American Printing House for the Blind
1839 Frankfort Avenue
PO Box 6085
Louisville, KY 40206-0085
This is an annual art contest sponsored by the APH. Entries are judged by a panel of artists. Categories of competition include the artist's age and media used. The contact person is Roberta Williams.

Montoya/Mas International, Inc.
435 Southern Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33405
Phone 800-682-8665 Fax 407-833-2722
www.palmbeaches.com/montoya/mmsales.htm
This company is a mail order operation that sells all types of stone sculpting supplies, including tools and a variety of types of stone.

National Exhibits by Blind Artists
919 Walnut
Philadelphia, PA 16107
215-924-3213
This organization puts a national touring exhibit together biannually. Pieces are judged for inclusion and the artwork is intended for sale.

Soapstone of Southern Oregon
John Pugh, Grant's Pass, Oregon
Best buy in soapstone, good soft beginner's stone
541-479-3646
www.touchart.com
Started by a tactile and visual artist/teacher. The site includes details of exhibitions, conferences, seminars, residencies, and workshops. Also has personal research on art and visual impairment and contacts for individuals and organizations interested in touch and visual arts. These are mostly in Europe.

KinderArt
www.kinderart.com/special
Activity and lesson plans for children and adults with disabilities.

Very Special Arts
1300 Connecticut Ave, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 628-2800
(800) 933-8721
Fax: (202) 737-0725
www.vsarts.org
Creates learning opportunities through the arts for people with disabilities. Offers programs in creative writing, drama, music, and visual arts

Art At Your Fingertips
www.artatyourfingertips.co.uk
Has tactile pictures of famous prints for loan to visually impaired people. Must register and pay annual fee to be eligible for loans.

Tactile Colour Ltd
107 Southover Street
Brighton, England BN2 2UA
Phone (UK) 00 44 1273 88 7725
www.tactile.net
Offers 12 colours each distinctively textured printed on self adhesive vinyl sheets. Enables people with visual impairments to create and share in the experience of visual artworks.

Arts Access of NC
www.artsaccessinc.org
Focuses on audio descriptions of different forms of art including dance, theater.

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Last Revision: July 30, 2002