Comments on: Garden Memoirs http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2008/06/27/garden-memoirs/ Just another Walker Blogs weblog Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:59:27 -0600 walker_blogs hourly 1 By: Courtney http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2008/06/27/garden-memoirs/comment-page-1/#comment-58 Courtney Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:38:31 +0000 http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2008/06/27/garden-memoirs/#comment-58 Mac -- I'm pleased to hear that your host student had such a memorable and multi-sensory experience at the Walker several years back. Touch tours, guided tours in which visitors engage with selected sculptures from the collection through touch, are a dynamic way to learn about the works in the galleries and garden. The Walker has specially trained tour guides who aptly lead visitors through touch tours, offering visual description and encouraging discussion along the way. In fact, in celebration of Art Beyond Sight Awareness month in October, we'll be offering two public touch tours. The tours will happen on Friday and Saturday, October 3 and 25 at 2pm. They're open to anyone, but can only accommodate the first 12 people, so arrive early for a spot. Private touch tours can also be arranged with at least 4-weeks notice. For more information visit http://learn.walkerart.org/tour.wac. Mac — I’m pleased to hear that your host student had such a memorable and multi-sensory experience at the Walker several years back. Touch tours, guided tours in which visitors engage with selected sculptures from the collection through touch, are a dynamic way to learn about the works in the galleries and garden. The Walker has specially trained tour guides who aptly lead visitors through touch tours, offering visual description and encouraging discussion along the way. In fact, in celebration of Art Beyond Sight Awareness month in October, we’ll be offering two public touch tours. The tours will happen on Friday and Saturday, October 3 and 25 at 2pm. They’re open to anyone, but can only accommodate the first 12 people, so arrive early for a spot. Private touch tours can also be arranged with at least 4-weeks notice. For more information visit http://learn.walkerart.org/tour.wac.

]]> By: Ashley http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2008/06/27/garden-memoirs/comment-page-1/#comment-59 Ashley Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:30:50 +0000 http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2008/06/27/garden-memoirs/#comment-59 That's a great story! Thanks for sharing Mac. It makes me want to hear more of peoples' Garden memories...anyone want to add? That’s a great story! Thanks for sharing Mac. It makes me want to hear more of peoples’ Garden memories…anyone want to add?

]]> By: mac gimse http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2008/06/27/garden-memoirs/comment-page-1/#comment-60 mac gimse Sun, 17 Aug 2008 06:21:29 +0000 http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2008/06/27/garden-memoirs/#comment-60 For 20 years I brought fine arts students to the Walker sculpture garden, walked across Siah Armajani's bridge, and had them write response papers to their own choice of work. They most often chose pieces they could touch or with which they interacted directly. But the crowning day came when we took our Thai student from Bangkok, whom we hosted for five years while he got his B.A. in Music from St. Olaf College, and his Masters in Music from the U of Minnesota into the garden. He is blind but he felt his way through the pieces with great sensitivity, asking many questions about each work. How big is it? What is the overall form? Why is it textured? What is the title...who made it? What makes it aesthetically pleasing? We of course asked permission of the Walker to do this, and we were thrilled with his response to the sculpture, something he had never done before. Today he is a member of the board of the International Society for the Blind and a Senator in Thailand. Every time we visit him, he talks about the day he can bring his sighted daughter to the Walker sculpture garden and "show her around." Thank you for this cultural treasure for both the sighted and those who see through their touch. Mac Gimse, Professor Emeritus of Art St. Olaf College Northfield, MN For 20 years I brought fine arts students to the Walker sculpture garden, walked across Siah Armajani’s bridge, and had them write response papers to their own choice of work. They most often chose pieces they could touch or with which they interacted directly. But the crowning day came when we took our Thai student from Bangkok, whom we hosted for five years while he got his B.A. in Music from St. Olaf College, and his Masters in Music from the U of Minnesota into the garden. He is blind but he felt his way through the pieces with great sensitivity, asking many questions about each work. How big is it? What is the overall form? Why is it textured? What is the title…who made it? What makes it aesthetically pleasing?

We of course asked permission of the Walker to do this, and we were thrilled with his response to the sculpture, something he had never done before. Today he is a member of the board of the International Society for the Blind and a Senator in Thailand. Every time we visit him, he talks about the day he can bring his sighted daughter to the Walker sculpture garden and “show her around.”

Thank you for this cultural treasure for both the sighted and those who see through their touch.

Mac Gimse, Professor Emeritus of Art

St. Olaf College

Northfield, MN

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