This tactile artwork is on display at the Nebraska City for the Education of Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired. The work was created by students at the center along with Nebraska City Middle School students participating in PUFF. Photo by Grace Johnson.

A large crowd witnessed Monday’s dedication of the tactile art project created by students at the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired and Nebraska City Middle School students served by People United for Families. The dedication was held at NCECBVI.

Along with the students, individuals who led the project were on hand, including artist Ann Cunningham, Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts Executive Director Denise Brady and PUFF art club leader Katy Bovick.

Bovick, a former art teacher, said she thoroughly enjoyed working with the students on the project. “Watching them learn and grow and interact was the best part,” she said.

Special recognition was given to Candace Rehmeier, who instigated the project, as well as art instructor Mike Little and Tim Engel, who each helped with the final stages of the project. The Nebraska Arts Council provided funding for the project.

The NCECBVI students sang “Rainbow Connection” and Shalleen Davis presented a PowerPoint presentation documenting the creation of the artwork. “This was a labor of love,” she said.

Students molded the tactile mural out of clay in September. The piece dried for two months in the basement of the art center before being fired, painted and glazed.

Brady encouraged students who worked on the project to “celebrate the achievement in working together and enjoy the piece of art for a long time to come.”

The visual/tactile village now hangs in the NCECBVI.