BY BRYONY ROBERTS STUDIO
July 10–November 28, 2021
Outside the Lines is an immersive maze of accessible, sensory environments. The project emerged from conversations
between the designer and local self-advocates with disabilities and neurodiversity and their allies, with the goal of creating a space that is both inviting and enjoyable for all. Beyond simply ensuring accessibility to those with physical,
developmental, and/or intellectual disabilities, the project supports joyful exploration and social connection through a range of tactile environments. In creating spaces that celebrate the range of sensory experiences, the project aims to offer a richer experiential environment for everybody.
Winding through the outdoor Carroll Slater Sifly Piazza at the High Museum, the undulating steel structure supports hanging colorful strands that gently divide spaces but also invite touch and interaction. The hanging strands rise and fall along the curving shapes of the steel frame and move lightly in the wind. The layered strands offer dynamic navigation through touch, particularly designed for people who are blind or have visual impairments, and a hanging forest of tactile materials within reach of all people, including those who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices. In response to the need for varying degrees of intensity for people with sensory sensitivities, the colors and materials of the hanging strands vary through the structure to define changes in stimulation. The curves of the steel structure create both large, open areas as well as smaller enclosures, resulting in a variety of spaces from open, low-intensity zones to denser moments of social interaction to quiet pockets of relaxation.
The High Museum of Art has been engaging visitors of all ages in participatory art experiences since 2014. This project continues that tradition by promoting community engagement, providing a gathering space for all Atlantans, and stimulating our sense of wonder and play. Outside the Lines is an embodiment of inclusive public space that presents varied environments for our many communities.
RELATED PROGRAMS
Virtual Conversations with Contemporary Artists:
Bryony Roberts and Monica Obniski
Friday, July 9, 6:30 p.m., Zoom
Support for Conversations with Contemporary Artists is provided by the Jane F. and Clayton F. Jackson Conversations with Contemporary Artists Endowment.
Visit High.org for details.
Community Partners: Greg Aikens, BEGIN Program Manager, Center for the Visually Impaired; Shelby Ball, STARS Program Manager, Center for the Visually Impaired; Victoria Dugger, Artist; Lindsay Flax, Advocate; Paula E. Forney, MMSc, RPT; Dr. Madeleine Hackney, Associate Professor, Emory University School of Medicine; Eric Jacobson, Executive Director, Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities; Dr. Cheryl Kaiman, Program Director, Marcus Autism Center; Sitara Nayak, Vice President of Programs, Parent to Parent of Georgia; Mitzi Proffitt, Director of Support Services, Parent to Parent of Georgia
NB. Following the counsel of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, this project uses People First Language (PFL).
