EmilyDvorin

Did you ever go to an exhibit and want so badly to TOUCH a piece of art that you see? Being a 3-dimensional fiber artist, I "itch" to feel some pieces I see in exhibits. I know it is not appropriate behavior. I understand that if many people touch a piece, it might be affected or even damaged.

I encourage people to touch my work. How can I make such tactile, textural, prickly pieces and expect people to not be tempted to reach out and feel or stroke them? I understand the urge and I am glad to provoke the desire. There is only one instance that makes me cringe, when people say "Oh, this would make a great hat!", and they actually pick up one of my baskets and turn it over and put it on their heads. (This happens more times than I would have expected!) I know they are interacting with the piece, but it feels like they are dis-honoring it. Touching "lovingly" is one thing, wearing it is another... It seems like it is being made fun of, not taken seriously, demeaned in some way.

So, touching is a "mixed bag". How something is touched becomes more the issue. I'd like to think viewers could relate more to a piece if they could touch it. Certainly, for a 3-dimensional, fibrous, textural, sculptural, multi-layered piece, touching it would make it more accessible, more understandable, more enjoyable. Let art be touched!