The Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum has the largest touchable sculpture collection in Texas, museum officials announced in late December. The collection is important to visually impaired visitors as an avenue for arts education.
“I was a summer intern through the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services’s Division for Blind Services,” said Patricia Morales, 17. “The Umlauf has been a big part in my life, and I hope to see more conservation workshops in the future. Working with everyone at UMLAUF and knowing they supported me 100 percent made work very fun and educational. Their great attitudes and support helped me remember that even though I was disabled, I was still a big part of Umlauf, and I was welcomed there with open arms.”
The touchable sculpture collection is accessible to all visitors, and the museum provides free tours tailored to students of every ability, including students of independent school districts, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Texas School for the Deaf, Communities in Schools (CIS) programs, and other community organizations for special needs students.
The Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum is home to the largest collection of American sculptor Charles Umlauf’s work. In 1985, Umlauf and his wife gifted their home, art studio and 168 sculptures to the City of Austin for public enjoyment and education. The garden and museum are located at 605 Robert E. Lee Rd. near Zilker Park.
