Lace, roses and Braille

Two hundred years ago, Louis Braille opened the door to countless worlds. To stories, knowledge, and ideas.
The world Tanja Oblak from Slovenia shares with us today through her project is surely one he would have appreciated.
We’re truly delighted that you, dear Tanja , are sharing your creative project with us.
Thank you so much!

The “Braille in Lace” project

Since I have been teaching a blind girl to do lace for three years, and I have also been leading lace workshops at the Slovenian Association of the Deaf-Blind (DLAN) for two years, I wanted to pay tribute to the 200th anniversary of the organized activities of the blind and visually impaired in Slovenia with a project I called “Braille in Lace”.
I wanted to bring the beauty of lace products closer to people with blindness and deaf-blindness, as they will be able to touch the individual lace letters, which is not allowed at regular lace exhibitions. Those who can see will also be able to learn about Braille, as many people still do not know it.
The “Braille in Lace” project was presented at the online event “Educational Days of the Association of Special and Rehabilitation Pedagogues of Slovenia”, at the training for teachers, providers of additional professional assistance and teachers in adapted programs, and later the installation was exhibited at the Slovenian School Museum, the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum in Ljubljana and at the Faculty of Design.

The Slovenian braille alphabet made out of circles of lace exhibited in a museum. Each dot is represented by a circle of approximately 20 centimetres in diameter made from white threat. The dots for each letter share a different floral pattern. Each letter is stitched onto a black rectangular board together with the corresponding roman letter. The letters hang on a wall with a description of the piece in Slovene next to them. Infront of the description, there is a small round table with exemplary lacemaking tools propped up on top: A tube shaped basket with the blueprint of a lace design attached as well as a number of wooden spules with white threat.

The braille letter b made from white lace on a black background. The braille dots are designed in a shape roughly resembling a tightly woven spider web. Above the braille letter there is a white roman letter B. On the left of the letters there is a red rose.

The braille letter e made from white lace on a black background. The braille dots are designed in a shape resembling a blossom with 5 petals. Above the braille letter there is a white roman letter E.  On the left of the letter there is a red rose.

The braille letter u made from white lace on a black background. The braille dots are designed in an abstract pattern roughly resembling an angel with a spiral shaped head. Above the braille letter there is a white roman letter U.  On the left of the letter there is a red rose.

As a little addition, TO also shared two links to Slovenian-language pages with further information about the project:

https://www.etno-muzej.si/sl/razstave/brajica-v-cipkah
https://radio.ognjisce.si/sl/251/oddaje/34842/tanja-oblak-tudi-gluhoslepi-in-slepi-lahko-kleklajo.htm

useful links:

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