Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB)
Media release
When braille meets art
Inspired by his love for his blind partner Julie, Dunedin artist Ron Esplin is a firm believer that people who are
blind, deafblind and vision-impaired can still enjoy and appreciate art.
"I noticed that even though Julie couldn't see she was able to visualise a piece of art from its description," says Ron.
"But I wanted to add to her experience."
Ron has matched his artistic ability with his exposure to braille and has come up with a mixed media work that can be
best described as braille-art.
"Through braille-art, Julie and other blind people can appreciate and independently experience art for themselves
through the power of touch," says Ron.
Adds Julie: "When Ron gave me my first braille-art Christmas present I opened it and cried. It was just so special to
get something which had so much thought put into it and something which I didn't need to depend on someone else to tell
me what it was."
Julie is passionate about braille. Blind since 1997 due to a condition which affected both her retinas, Julie learnt
braille so that she could continue to read, work, do the shopping, help her children with their homework – basically
participate fully and independently like other New Zealand adults. Julie now works for the RNZFB as their Braille
Awareness Consultant.
Ron has donated a piece of braille-art to the Bayleys Charity Art Auction to be held on Friday 3 November. A mixed media
work which contains large braille dots and raised tactile letters spelling the word "vision", the braille-art will be
going up for auction with works from other local artists to raise money for the RNZFB's Guide Dog Services.
Guide dogs mean freedom, independence, confidence and companionship. The RNZFB's Guide Dog Services receives no
government funding and is dependant on support from corporates and the New Zealand public. Bayleys Realty Group is the
principal sponsor of Guide Dog Services.
ENDS