
Patricia Bérubé
PhD Candidate, Technology and Culture
Coming from an Art History background, I was quickly drawn to the question of cultural accessibility within museums. In fact, I have always been particularly interested in the evolution of the concept of ‘museum public’, which now starts to expand to previously underrepresented or marginalized groups. By analyzing how colors are used and accessed, my goal is to challenge and broaden our understanding of what cultural accessibility is or should be.
As a PhD student, I am currently building on the knowledge acquired during my M.A., and plan to work closely with collaborators from the low-vision and blind community to create new ways to experience colors in painting.
My research interests include accessibility, perception, neuropsychology, museums and technologies such as 3D printing.
This research work is generously funded by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Degrees:
M.A. in Art History • Université de Montréal
B.A. in Art History and Museology • Université du Québec à Montréal + Academic Exchange • Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
A.E.C in 3D Animation • Centre NAD • Montreal
Selected publications:
Online Article – The Conversation
- Article title: Museums present visual art as beautiful things you can touch (October 9th 2019) https://theconversation.com/museums-present-visual-art-as-beautiful-things-you-can-touch-122448
Magazine Article – Revue Dire
- Article title: Musées : faire une place au toucher, p. 12-16 (No 29-1, Fall 2018)
- Article title: L’art au bout des doigts, p. 10-15 (No 27-1, Winter 2018)
Exhibition Catalogue – Perspectives sur l’art au Québec. De Brymner à Lemonde.
- Article title: Rita Letendre, peintre de lumière, p. 70-74 (Fall 2017)
Magazine Articles – Ex_situ
- Article title: La petite mort, p. 30-32 (No 25, Spring 2016)
- Article title: L’exposition à l’ère du numérique : vers une médiation digitale, p. 59-63 (No 24, Winter 2015)
Selected Conference Presentations:
« L’art, une question de perceptions ? », 87th ACFAS Congress, Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO), May 31st 2019.
« Touch based accessibility: art at your fingertips », symposium: (Un)bound: Interdisciplinary Dialogues, Carleton University, May 3rd, 2019.
Symposium title: Community and Connection: Social responsibility in the heritage sector, panel title: Moderated Discussion on Inclusivity in the Narrative: Artistic Practices and Access to Display, featured speaker alongside Dr. Adrian Chan (Carleton) and Dr. Gabrielle Trepanier (Ingenium), Ottawa Art Gallery, March 30th, 2019.
« Colors at your fingertips », guest lecturer, Carleton University, Course title: Arts and Its Institutions (ART 5010 F), February 27th, 2019.
« Comment utiliser les prototypes tactiles ? Une formation à l’intention des guides bénévoles », guest speaker, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, July 23th, 2018.
« Vers une médiation plus inclusive : la couleur au bout des doigts », Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, SSHRC Storytellers Contest, Regina University, May 28th, 2018.
« Toucher les couleurs pour rendre l’art accessible à tous », 86th ACFAS Congress, Université de Chicoutimi, May 7th 2018.
« L’impression 3D comme solution de médiation auprès d’un public muséal malvoyant et non-voyant », Journée jeunes chercheurs et chercheuses en histoire de l’art, Université de Montréal, March 23th, 2018.
« Dispositif de médiation muséal pour les aveugles en impression 3D », Digital Humanities 2018 Showcase, Université de Montréal, January 26th 2018.
Exhibitions:
2019 Exhibition • Tactile prototypes exhibited in Exploration de l’impression 3D • Québec
2018 – 2019 Permanent collection • Tactile prototypes exhibited in Montreal Museum of Fine Arts • Montreal
2017 Co-Curator • Perspectives sur l’art au Québec. De Brymner à Lemonde • Montreal
2015 – 2016 Curator • Exhibition: Fantôme 3 – Artist: Eric Dufour • Montreal
Selected Interviews / Media Coverage:
2019 Carleton University • Ottawa
Grad Research: Creating Opportunities For Blind and Low-Vision Individuals to Experience Art, published on October 18th, 2019. https://gradstudents.carleton.ca/2019/grad-research-creating-opportunities-for-blind-and-low-vision-individuals-to-experience-art/
2019 Globe and Mail • Canada
How a Montreal researcher is helping the blind experience visual art, published on January 6th, 2019. This is part of Stepping Up, a series introducing Canadians to their country’s new sources of inspiration and leadership. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art-and-architecture/article-how-a-montreal-researcher-is-helping-the-blind-experience-visual-art/
2018 Le Téléjournal • Montreal
Des oeuvres tactiles pour non-voyants au Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal, Interview broadcasted on August 1st https://ici.radio-canada.ca/tele/le-telejournal-18h/2016-2017/segments/reportage/81866/toiles-tactiles-pellan-musee-beaux-arts-montreal
2018 Le Devoir • Montreal
Newspapers and digital Newspapers. Jérôme Delgado, Peinture à lire, à l’aveugle, published on July 24th https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/arts-visuels/533045/peinture-a-lire-a-l-aveugle
2018 Agence de presse QMI • Montreal
Newspapers and digital Newspapers. Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal : une oeuvre de Pellan reproduite en tableaux tactiles pour les personnes non voyantes, article published on several websites and Newspapers (Journal de Montréal, TVA nouvelles, Journal 24 Heures, Canoe.ca) on July 23th
2018 Montreal Museum of Fine Arts • Montreal
Press release. Des prototypes tactiles permettent aux personnes non-voyantes de percevoir les couleurs d’un tableau du MBAM, July 23th www.mbam.qc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/MBAM-Communique-Prototypes-tactiles_Final-1.pdf
2018 Agence de presse QMI • Montreal
Newspapers and digital Newspapers. Francis Pilon, Elle fait voir des tableaux aux non-voyants, interview published on several websites and Newspapers (Journal de Montréal, TVA nouvelles, Journal 24 Heures, Canoe.ca), May 23th http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2018/05/23/elle-fait-voir-des-tableaux-aux-non-voyants-1
2018 Forum / UdeM nouvelles • Montreal
Digital School Newspaper. Mathieu-Robert Sauvé, Une étudiante permet à des non-voyants de « voir » des tableaux!, interview published on May 11th http://nouvelles.umontreal.ca/article/2018/05/11/une-etudiante-permet-a-des-non-voyants-de-voir-des-tableaux/
2017 AMI Télé • Montreal
Television interview, Ça me regarde, November 25th http://www.amitele.ca/category/ca-me-regarde/media/ca-me-regarde-25-novembre-2017
2017 La Presse + • Montreal
Digital Newspaper. Éric Clément, Saisir les couleurs par le toucher, interview published on April 17th, ARTS section, screen 2 http://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/70480f79-f898-4b97-9c23-40ba58eeae88__7C__E9IP4CZB44u0.html