Kansas State University

MANHATTAN — October is Blindness and Visual Impairment Awareness Month and the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art at Kansas State University is offering visitors a chance to smell, hear, taste and feel some of the art on display in its galleries from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5.

"It's a great chance to use all of your senses to experience the featured exhibitions," said Kathrine Schlageck, senior educator at the museum. "We invite everyone to this free event and to use all of their senses to experience art."

The tour begins with the Sensory Station in the exhibition "Igniting the Senses," where activities include listening to bird songs, feeling snake skins, smelling flowers and tasting a still life. This is the final day for this interactive exhibition developed in conjunction with the Manhattan Public Library's Summer Reading Program.

Gallery teachers will assist participants in two special exhibitions by artists Charles Bello and Chet Peters that both feature wood sculptures. Small touchable sculptures by Peters and raised diagrams of the Bello sculptures will be available. Visitors also may request visual descriptions of the sculptures, and there is an educational exhibition on redwood trees that may be touched.

For more information of Art Beyond Sight and Blindness and Visual Impairment Awareness Month, visit the following websites:

• http://www.blindness.org/blog/index.php/opening-eyes-during-blindness-awareness-month/

• http://www.artbeyondsight.org/change/aw-overview.shtml#why