In collaboration with Mariliana Arvelo, James Patten created tactile photographic prints as part of a project about the deafblind community in Boston.

The Tactile Photography pieces are produced through a CNC laser etching process that removes the top portion of the wood. The darker the image is a point, the more wood is removed by the laser. The result is a photographic relief that can be touched as well as seen.

As people touch the images, the surface of the wood continues to wear, and people’s experience of the work becomes part of the work itself. No computers nor sophisticated mechanical wizzardy but that doesn´t make these works less “interactive”.

These images are on display until July 31, 2005 at The Gallery at the Piano Factory , Boston, MA 02118