Inclusive sensory mural in South Florida allows everyone to appreciate art

(Image credit: iStock)

published 30 August 2018

This is no ordinary mural.

Painted on the side of the Lighthouse of Broward County in Fort Lauderdale, the mural features mockingbirds, oranges, and colorful flowers. But there's more to it than just paint — there are censors above the mural that when triggered generate the sound of birds and scent of citrus, and the oranges and feathers are raised so they can be felt when touched. This is a sensory mural, and the first of its kind in South Florida, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

The Lighthouse of Broward County is a nonprofit organization that provides services for people who are blind or visually impaired. The mural, designed by artist Ernesto Maranje, was painted by more than 150 volunteers, and Ellyn Drotzer, president and CEO of Lighthouse of Broward County, says the response from clients has been "overwhelmingly positive as they talk about the experience as a transformational one." Instead of having to rely on others to describe the mural, "they can feel the different textures, such as the smooth ridges of the mockingbird feathers, and smell the citrus as they enjoy the music of the mockingbird call." This, she told the Sun-Sentinel, causes children and adults to "break out in huge smiles."

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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