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----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Elizabeth, I believe that teaching the blind to see is a challenge, but not one that is insurmountable. I say this after having met a group of 12 blind people last autumn while travelling in Italy. They were led by a retired classist from Miami of Ohio University (whose name eludes me) and were on an art and archaeology tour. At communal meals in the villa where we stayed, I learned (was told by the members of the tour) that they "saw" their art in a highly enjoyable and satisfying way. Some devices that were used to enhance their experiences were the introduction of classical texts, music, and in Naples the male members of the tour were particularly enchanted with the "callipygian" statues in the Farnese collection--which they were allowed to touch. One of the women in the group told me of an art history course that she took at home--specifically for the blind. She was particularly enamored of Matisse's dancers. The instructor placed the class members in the position of the dancers to help them to visualize what it was like. Since some members of her class were sighted at one time in their lives, there was a memory of color which was a descriptive element that they could relate to. Texture is a highly important element because that is a heightened sense in many of the unsighted. Movement also is understood. I wish you good luck with your student. It certainly is a considerable challlenge, but the results should be most rewarding. Until our trip, I would have wondered how it would be possible to convey art to the unsighted. After the experience, and seeing the enthusiasm of the participants (I should add they were most independent as well), I came away solidly in favor of such experiences. Beryl Smith Rutgers University Art Library