Mindsight exhibit at the Harn

Touching art displayed at museums is typically against the rules, but the Harn Museum of Art and the Gator Lions Club are inviting people to do just that April 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Held annually at the Harn Museum, MindSight is a program that encourages all participants, including those who are blind or visually impaired, to experience art through senses other than sight.

“This partnership celebrates a real connection between the mission of the Gator Lions Club and the mission of the museum to promote the power of the arts to inspire and educate people and enrich their lives,” said Bonnie Bernau, director of education at the Harn Museum. "Both groups endorse the concept that there are many ways to experience art, and this program gives everyone the opportunity to use senses beyond that of sight.”

Community artists and University of Florida student and faculty artists provided works of art to be explored through touch while the works are verbally described by student guides or the artists themselves. MindSight also invites those with sight to experience the artwork in the same way by wearing a blindfold.

Call for Undergraduate UF Artists

The HHMI Science for Life program, the Harn Museum of Art, and the Florida Museum of Natural History invite you to participate in an event which will celebrate UF undergraduate creativity in the arts and sciences. The event follows up on last year’s science-only display and poster session at the FLMNH which drew almost 100 posters from across the US and was attended by about 800 people. This year, thanks to support from the the Harn Museum and the FLMNH, we will expand the event to incorporate both museums.

We are looking for students interested in displaying any type of art work, performance or visual. You could set up a lighting display, do a dance routine or play electronic music as long as we are able to accommodate your work at one of our venues. Your work will be displayed along with that of science-majoring students, who will be presenting posters detailing their research.

In addition, participants will compete for the Science for Life Undergraduate Creativity Award, a $2,500 prize which will go to one student in the arts and one in the sciences. The $2,500 will fund the student to attend his or her choice of a meeting, workshop, exhibition or the like anywhere in the world.

Unfortunately, due to space and time limitations, art-majoring students must apply. Your application will be evaluated by faculty from both the University of Florida College of Fine Arts and the UF Chemistry Department. The application deadline is October 31, 2008.

For information, please contact Dylan Walsh, the coordinator for this event.Email: dylanwalsh033@chem.ufl.edu
Ph: 352-392-9306
Fx: 352-392-7426
Web site: http://hhmi.chem.ufl.edu/creativity/
Facebook Event Page: http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=27481827638