The thrill for a blind or partially sighted person  or a person that
learns kinesthetically would be the thrill of learning.  I have been in
many art museums throughout the country and I have never had the
opportunity to touch reproductions.  Fully sighted I too would
occaisionally like to feel textures.

On Sun, 25 Feb 1996, Amalyah Keshet wrote:

> ---------------Original Message---------------
>
>
> Give some credit where it is due - art museums have used "hands-on" learning
> techniques with these types of objects for decades.  Unfortunately, many have
> not introduced this material into the gallery for a variety of reasons, and
> have instead limited its use to educational tours and special galleries or
> exhibitions.  Even so, many visitors seem to be attracted to the lure of the
> original - "I touched a Van Gogh!!" - rather than "I touched the impasto of a
> simulated Van Gogh!!"  The thrill is not there - the connection to the
> world-famous, often long-dead hero/artist is denied.
>
> Kevin
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> ----------End of Original Message----------
>
> A very valid point - in my experience, the one paramount thing a visitor to a
mu
> seum is
> looking for is authenticity -- the thrill of the "real thing."  Otherwise, the
y
> could go to
> any other place offering reproductions of experience (movies, for example).
>
> -------------------------------------
> Name: amalyah keshet
> visual resources / the israel museum, jerusalem
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> Date: 02/25/96
> Time: 08:03:58
>
> -------------------------------------
>