Leslie Putnum and David Bobier are rare and wonderful artists who want their work to be touched. The Speak Easy was honored to have the opportunity to do just that. Leslie and David’s work include technologies that have the potential to create more inclusive experiences for all, including deaf, blind, disabled and hearing audiences. They are the current Artists in Residency at Sulfur Studios, homebase of the Savannah nonprofit, ARTS Southeast.
Leslie and David’s collaboratively created, “vibrotactile artwork involves the use of transducers to change sound into vibration, allowing for the audience to experience what is known as haptic empathy: conveying emotional meaning through vibrotactile feedback”, as was shared by ARTS Southeast. Sound, vibration, music, spoken words and poetry are transmitted through beautifully shaped ceramics, textiles, felted wool and other natural materials. Braille and varied textures are often included to enable the “bridging of methods of communication and language”, as stated by David. The art that he and Leslie create together places a “particular emphasis on the tactile as a form of creative expression”, as noted in their joint statement. They create art that is an immersive, multisensory experience to be deeply felt, not merely distantly viewed or heard.
David is the Director of “an interactive creative media studio VibraFusionLab (which) promotes and encourages the creation of new accessible art forms, including the vibrotactile, and focuses on inclusive technologies that have the potential of expanding art-making practices in the deaf, blind, disabled and hearing communities, and for creating more inclusive experiences for deaf, blind, disabled and hearing audiences” (VibraFusionLab, 2023)
Leslie, is a multi-disciplinary artist, educator and facilitator who “creates multi-modal sculptures and installations on the premise that sculpture can and should include the ability of access though multiple senses, removing the barrier of ‘do not touch’ created by the limitations of institutions. In 2010 she and David Bobier formed the O’Honey Collective as a platform for research and creation relating to the natural world” (ARTS Southeast, 2024). Learn more through Leslie’s website, and Instagram page.
Leslie and David’s exhibition inspired by their time in Savannah can be enjoyed now until July 5th at at ARTS Southeast’s Sulfur Studios, 2301 Bull Street Savannah, GA, 31401. The project finale will be Friday, July 5th from 5 – 9PM in conjunction with First Fridays in Starland.
“Breaking down social, intellectual, emotional and physical barriers has been essential toward offering greater diversity and exchange of artistic experiences for both artist and audience. In exploring sensory transformation of language, information and perception from one modality to another with particular emphasis on the tactile as a form of creative expression, prompts consideration of multiple senses as channels of communication and exchange.”
– Leslie Putnam & David Bobier (Ontario, Canada)
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