ART IS IN HAND OF THE BEHOLDER; AT GALLERY, BLIND FIND SEEING IS BELIEVING SIGHTLESS FIND EXHIBIT PLEASANT TO TOUCH.

Byline: Sharline Chiang Daily News Staff Writer

Usually art exhibits ward off unwelcome fingers with signs that warn: Don't Touch.

But for the 15 blind and visually impaired visitors to the Brand Library Art Gallery on Wednesday, an invitation to do just the opposite was a rare chance to experience a work of art.

``I'm just overwhelmed. I can feel everything,'' marveled Helen Goldwater, 71, of Encino after touching a mosaic piece. ``Most museums, you can't touch anything. I can't see, so it doesn't mean anything.''

Goldwater and the others, all students at the Braille Institute in Los Angeles, were encouraged to stroke, poke and nuzzle the works in the exhibit ``The Garden of Time'' as guests of the library gallery and sculptor Connie Mississippi.

``OK, look around. Feel around. Touch everything,'' Mississippi told the gallery guests after describing the various pieces in the show.

The students, all of them taking some kind of art class at the Braille Institute, happily followed her instructions, some with help from Mississippi or classmates with better vision.

Emery Blumenberg, 72, of Van Nuys, who is visually impaired, guided his friend Willard McCord, 83, of Panorama City, who is blind.

``They are beautiful,'' Blumenberg said. ``I do wood turning myself, so for me visually it's wonderful. But for him it's good for him to touch them.''

``With people who are visually impaired, what's amazing is that they have a whole other world through touch,'' said Mississippi, who has taught at the Braille Institute. ``I felt it was so important for them to touch (my artwork). They do have such an incredible tactile sense. I think it gave them a real insight to the work that they wouldn't have had otherwise.''

Among the abstract works of wood, steel and rubber, a favorite was a piece titled ``Tree for Louise Bourgeois'' that offered chunky, spiky ``fruits'' made of turned Baltic birch plywood hanging from whimsical steel branches. Students also remarked how the gummy texture of the rubber on the piece ``Bone on the Road'' contrasted with the smooth plywood base.

Of the students, mostly senior citizens, some were born blind, while others lost their vision later in life due to degenerative eye conditions. Still others are partially sighted and did their part to lead the others around and answer questions about the sculptures.

The artist's generosity in allowing people to touch her work is not without risks. At one point a woman bumped into and fell at the feet of the ``Tree for Betye Saar,'' a sculpture of fir and basswood, breaking one of the pink ``blossoms.''

Mississippi made sure the student was unhurt, reassured her and picked up the pieces.

Another center of attraction was the ``Pool of Time'' - a birdbath-like sculpture of mosaic tiles in hues of cobalt blue and turquoise. Across the outermost tiles, Mississippi had etched names of women sculptors.

She encouraged students to dip their fingers in the water and trace the sculptors' names.

With walking cane tucked under one arm, McCord offered his critique. Even after losing his vision in his late 30s, he enjoys carpentry. He especially loves birdhouses.

``If I made something I wouldn't make this,'' he said, whispering. ``It's so impractical if you ask me.''

Mississippi began working on her ``Garden'' more than two years ago. The Topanga-based artist said that subconsciously she might have been thinking about her blind students at the Braille Institute while she was working and turning the various-textured pieces of wood. ``It had to have affected me,'' she said.

The exhibit will be on display until March 6. The Brand Library Art Gallery of the Glendale Public Library is located at 1601 West Mountain St., Glendale. Call [phone] for gallery hours.

An evening of performance for the exhibit will be held at 7 today in the Brand Recital Hall. The artist will discuss her work and friends of the artist's will read stories and poetry.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

PHOTO (1) Sight-impaired students touch a piece of artwork by Connie Mississippi at the Brand Gallery in Glendale, where the students were able to inspect the artist's work, which is mostly in wood.

(2) Dorothy Mullins of West Hollywood was one of the museum guests who were encouraged to stroke, poke and nuzzle the art.

(3) Connie Mississippi helps a sight-impaired visitor to her work.

(4) Joseph Kiss touches a large piece of art in an exhibit of Connie Mississippi's work at the Brand Gallery in Glendale.

David Crane/Daily News