Seeing
Special Events
July & August 2002
Seeing Magic with Sara Crasson
Friday July 5 - Sunday July 7
McBean Theater, 2pm
Is the hand really quicker than the eye? Using the science of magic
and the magic of perception, magician Sara Crasson will confound and
amaze! While the audience is entertained, Ms. Crasson will introduce
the seeing science behind her art — the concepts and principles
of illusion in magic, including such factors as the limitations of
attention, perception and memory.
Low Vision: A Local Perspective with the Rose Resnick Lighthouse
for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Saturday July 13 & Saturday August 10
Skylight, noon-4pm
The Rose Resnick Lighthouse will make real what it means to live in
the US with low-vision. Visitors will be able to try on goggles that
simulate different eye conditions, "watch" movies adopted
for low-vision audiences, and learn about what it means to live with
low-vision. The Rose Resnick Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually
Impaired works in the Bay Area community to build a world whose benefits
and opportunities are available to the blind and sighted alike.
Seeing the Abstract in Nature with Artist Vesta Kirby
Sunday July 14 & August 11
Walks begin at 12:30 & 2:30
Join painter and naturalist Vesta Kirby in a walk around the Palace
of Fine Arts to explore the natural forms, shapes, textures, patterns,
scale and colors around us. As you take time on this walk to examine,
touch and sketch, you will rediscover a sense of wonder at the world,
and at your own ability to see.
Noticing Tours in Crissy Field
Dates TBA
Join us for specially developed Noticing Tours designed for
using the grounds of Crissy Field to further explore the concepts
underpinning the Exploratorium's Seeing collection. Combining the
expertise of the Golden Gate National Park Rangers and Exploratorium
staff, this series of Noticing Tours will begin at Crissy Field Center
and explore seeing in our natural landscape.
Physics of Toys
Saturday July 20 & Saturday August 17
Skylight, noon-4pm
In conjunction with the opening of the new Seeing collection, Physics
of Toys will focus on Seeing! In July and August, make toys and
do experiments that demonstrate there is more to seeing than meets
the eye - tops, spinners, illusions, 3-D pictures, and much more.
Some of the activities will be scaled-down versions of the big demonstrations
in the Seeing exhibit. Make-and-take home your own Seeing toy.
What Did We Learn: The Work of Judith Scott, Creative Growth Art Center
and Seeing,
with Tom Di Maria
Wednesday August 7
McBean Theater, 7pm
Judith Scott has spent the past 14 years creating compelling and haunting
works of sculpture. This is even more remarkable because Judith is
a 59-year old woman with Down’s Syndrome. In addition, she cannot
speak or hear. Tom DiMaria, the Executive Director of Creative Growth
Art Center in Oakland, will discuss what is to be learned from the
exhibition of Judith Scott's work, now on display in the Exploratorium's
new Seeing Gallery. DiMaria will also address Creative Growth Art
Center, the ongoing issues of disability and art, as well as Judith
Scott's work and visitor response.
What is Visual Literacy? And Who is Literate? A talk by noted art
historian James Elkins
Wednesday August 21
McBean Theater, 7pm
Although literacy doesn't usually include the visual world, in this
special evening presentation, James Elkins will ask "What is
visual literacy, and who is literate?" James Elkins is Professor
of Art History, Theory and Criticism at the School of the Art Institute
of Chicago and the author of more than fourteen books about sight,
vision, painting and seeing.
Low Vision: A World-Wide Perspective with Seva Foundation
Date TBA
Every five seconds someone in the world goes blind; every minute a
child goes blind. The Seva Foundation offers a presentation on the
challenges of blindness prevention, sight restoration and improving
the lives of those with low-vision, around the world. Seva is a Berkeley
based non-profit that works in India, Nepal, Tibet, Cambodia, Chiapas,
as well as with Native Americans here in the United States, to build
a network of international partnerships in the field of health, technology
transfers and culturally appropriate development.
