An Artist’s reception for the “Please Touch!,” an interactive and collaborative exhibit that explores the themes of air, earth, the human form and sound through a variety of media, is scheduled for 3:30-6:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 23 at the Edmonds Community College Art Gallery in Lynnwood Hall.

Jim Ballard and his colleagues, sculptors Richard Hestekind and David Varnau, along with various teams of people create an experiential art installation that focuses on touch, sound, 
and motion.

The “Please Touch!” 3-D art show is designed to be interactive and visceral. Although sculpture is considered a “visual” art, this show is intended for the visitor to the gallery to actually “feel” the sculptures and reliefs on display. With the visually impaired visitor in mind, it allows you, like them, to touch each work exhibited. So, it’s not about simply “viewing” the artwork. It’s about “feeling” the sensuous contours of the abstract and representational stone and bronze sculptures as well as the reliefs displayed on the walls of the gallery.

Collaborative aspects of the exhibit took place during fall 2014 as part of Jim Ballard’s artist-in-residence program with Edmonds Community College students and instructors, blind or visually impaired local community members, and others who shared their ideas, developed methods of executing the art, and created tactile works. This exhibit invites children and adults who want to discover more about the world to “Please Touch! ”

“Please Touch!” runs Jan. 5-March 13 at Edmonds Community College Art Gallery https://www.edcc.edu/gallery/

The exhibit is sponsored by the college’s library, the Visual Arts department, and the Center for Student Engagement and Leadership.