Tactile Meditations

Braille has been used in my artwork to explore political, cultural, and social blindness. Developed in 1829 by Louis Braille, it is comprised of a rectangular six-dot cell on its end, with 63 possible combinations using one or more of the six dots. For the sighted, Braille appears as a rhythmic flow of patterns, a visual structure evoking meaning. Viewers can have the experience of being temporarily “othered”.

Several works have words in Braille carved or embossed onto the forms; some use tiles or pegs to spell out a statement.

My subjects range from concepts about beauty to meditations on climate change. Poems by Debra Marquart, Distinguished Professor in Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University and outgoing Poet Laureate of Iowa, are used in several pieces.

Appreciations and thanks are owed to those who have brought this to fruition. Museum director Susan Baley, whose keen eye and eagerness to work with me set us on the path. Milton Severe, director of exhibition design, created the elegant layout. Tilly Woodward provided educational programming and publicity support, and Jocelyn Krueger oversees collections and is the registrar. All photos courtesy Grinnell College Museum of Art.

Ingrid Lilligren and Debra Marquart: Gallery Talk & Reading. September 4th, 4 p.m. in the gallery.