04/27/2026
“Touch The Art” exhibit at the Almost Real Things Gallery, Canopy, Austin, Texas.
The work I exhibit is a bit of a social experiment. It’s an invitation into my soul.
I’ve created my signature composition of white clay elements on a deep black, highly reflective magnetic board. The board is so glossy it’s almost like a dark mirror.
But here is the catch: I am giving you full permission to change it. You can move the elements, listen to the click of the magnets, feel their weight, and create your own composition. In doing so, you might destroy the harmony I spent hours creating. You might even find that the magnets behave unpredictably, sticking together, sliding down the board due to gravity, or even breaking apart. This reflects life: we try to hold things in place, but nature and other people have their own plans.
The elements themselves are made of a lightweight stone clay. I chose this material because it creates a sensory contradiction. Visually, these intricate white forms look incredibly fragile, like they might crumble if you breathe on them. But once you pick them up, you’ll find they are actually quite sturdy and rough to the touch. If you apply force, you might break them!
What I’ve learned through this process is the terrifying and beautiful vulnerability of letting go. By making this art accessible, I’m not just thinking about high-contrast visuals for those with low vision or textures for those who are blind. I’m thinking about the accessibility of agency.
Why is this important? Because usually, museums tell us 'do not touch' to protect the art from us. Here, I am asking: what happens when we do touch? Does our need to interact inevitably mess up something beautiful? Does the art become 'lesser' once my signature harmonious composition is gone, or does it become something more human?
I invite you to be part of that answer. Move a piece. Feel the weight. And consider what it means to leave your mark on someone else’s harmonious baby.
