Unique in Louisville.
Accessible to people who are blind.
Transforming how public art meets its audience.
IFB Solutions Image
Image Description: An adolescent boy faces towards the left with his hands outstretched before him as he touches a tactile mural. The mural has the words “Independence Through Learning” sculpted onto it.
Project Overview
Louisville Visual Art is working with the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation, local and national partners, and Artist Liz Richter to realize Richter’s concept for a public artwork in Louisville’s Clifton neighborhood (home of the Kentucky School for the Blind and the American Printing House for the Blind) that is sensory accessible to the blind and visually impaired. With input from the blind and visually impaired community and residents of Clifton, the artwork will feature a colorful ceramic mosaic depicting prominent buildings and locations in Clifton, intertwined with images of native plants and flowers. The work will be installed on a curved, sculptural “wall” of Richter’s design, which has already been erected in Clifton’s Banks Common. In addition to the tactile nature of the artwork itself, various accessibility provisions, including on-site Braille descriptions and online verbal descriptions, will allow blind and visually impaired people to engage with and appreciate the project.
Over time, we hope this website will become a place where anyone who is moved by the art can respond to the work or contribute their own artistic creations in a wide variety of forms and media, ranging from music and poetry to drawing, photography, or performance. Keep checking back to see what’s new!
Image Description: an architect’s digital rendering showing an aerial view looking down on Banks Common with the undulating wall upon which Liz Richter’s mosaic artwork will be installed standing beside the pedestrian walkway.
If you are blind or visually impaired, we want to hear from you!
Our listening effort is underway, but more feedback is always welcome.
Click the button at right to learn more and complete a brief survey.
Celebrate Clifton and its Blind Community
A unique work of public art for a unique neighborhood.
Image Description: A large black and white banner - the left side carries white text against a black background: “Welcome to the Historic Clifton Neighborhood”. The right side is an early 20th century photo of a small ice-cream shop called Cuscaden’s Happy Land. A 1920’s era delivery truck and passing streetcar are visible behind it. Three people stand outside in front of the shop.
Lead Artist, Liz Richter, is the catalyst for a project attracting the time, talents, and treasure of many. Find out how you can be part of the story.
Community Based
Image Desription: Liz Richter, Lead Artist of the project, stands smiling in front of a colorful mural painted on a brick wall. She is a young White woman with dark medium length wavy hair, wearing coveralls splattered with paint.
A short video exploring how the Multisensory Public Art for Clifton project can enrich students’ understandings of accessible public artwork.
LVA, the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation and our funding partners extend thanks to the Oxmoor Auto Group for producing this video.
People who are blind and visually impaired deserve public art that moves and inspires them.
Image Description: A black and white photo depicts a young child seen from behind as he kneels and gently touches a sliver of sunlight glowing on a dimly lit wall.