Art at Hand - Ogden Pleissner

Today Geo and I were at the Shelburne Museum for an Art at Hand presentation. Art at Hand is for persons who are Blind or Visually Impaired, The museum guides describe the artwork and provide sensory experiences of art - auditory, tactile, and even aromatic.

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This morning we learned about Ogden Pleissner, an artist who worked in both oils and water colors. During World War II, he was an artist embedded with the troops. He sketched and then painted scenes of the war.  He was also an avid sportsman who painted about fishing in rivers in the wilderness.

At the museum there is a room that shows Pleissner's studio as it may have looked when he painted in Manchester, VT.

Some of his fishing attire is on display. It was described by the museum guides.

One prominent painting is of a salmon "striking" at a dry fly.

This painting was described by the guide. She then passed a raised tracing of the salmon so everyone could feel its shape.

Next we felt a very authentic- looking wood carving of salmon. The colors happened to be the exact colors of the fish in the painting.

Here's a dry fly that could be used in catching salmon.

There were several works on display of men fishing from guideboats. 

Misty Morning - Salmon Fishing, 1938

To help put us into the scene, the guides played sounds of birds singing and they even passed around branches of greens with the fresh smell of pines.

This was an informative, accessible and fun way to experience art. 
We look forward to the next Art at Hand that will take place in June.

Ernie, a service dog, just chillin' out.

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