AMHERST, Mass. and BERKELEY, Calif. (PRWEB)
March 06, 2023

EnChroma® glasses to enable guests with color vision deficiencies to see the vibrant, colorful collages of Eric Carle

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is the first art museum in Massachusetts to offer eyewear by EnChroma to visitors with color vision deficiencies, or “color blindness.” Beginning March 1, guests with color vision deficiencies can borrow special EnChroma glasses from The Carle to experience the Museum’s picture book art in clear, vibrant color for the first time. Eight pairs of eyewear are available, including glasses for both children and adults, indoor and outdoor use, and pairs adapted to fit over eyeglasses, through the EnChroma Color Accessibility Program™.

“Eric Carle said his painted papers were like his palette. His collages began by painting tissue paper with bright, acrylic paints, creating colorful patterns across each paper. And by partnering with EnChroma we can now offer glasses to color blind guests so they can better view those vibrant colors and designs, not only in the colorful collages of Eric Carle and other works in our collection, but outside appreciating nature in Bobbie’s Meadow,” said Courtney Waring, director of education.

One in 12 men (8%) and one in 200 women (.5%) are color vision deficient, which affects an estimated 13 million in the United States and 350 million worldwide. While people with normal color vision see over one million shades of color, those with color vision deficiency only see an estimated 10% of hues and shades. As a result, colors can appear muted, indistinct, and difficult to discern.

Click here for images of Eric Carle’s artwork as it appears to the color blind.

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and other works by Eric Carle, are some of the most iconic and colorful in children’s literature,” said Erik Ritchie, CEO of EnChroma. “And now, with the help of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, their color blind visitors will be able to fully enjoy his and other artist’s picture book illustrations in vivid color.”

Special optical filters in EnChroma glasses help color blind people perceive a wider range of colors and to see them more vividly and distinctly. A study by the University of California, Davis, and INSERM, the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research, demonstrated the effectiveness of EnChroma glasses. A separate recent study in the scientific publication Eye-Nature also highlights the benefits of the glasses.

EnChroma Color Accessibility Program™

EnChroma is the leading advocate for accessibility for those with color blindness. Nearly 200 public institutions—including libraries, schools, universities, national parks, gardens, tourism bureaus—participate to help color blind visitors more fully experience colors in art, nature, and overcome obstacles to learning. EnChroma donates a pair of glasses for every pair an organization purchases. EnChroma also provides materials for institutions to educate the public or teachers, students, and parents about color blindness and its effects. Organizations interested in joining the program can email accessiblity@enchroma.com.

More information can be found at enchroma.com. Additional media materials can be downloaded here. Photos of three color blind people trying the EnChroma glasses at the Eric Carle Museum on February 27 are available for media here.

About The Museum:

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is the international champion for picture books. We collect, preserve, and exhibit original illustrations, encourage guests of all ages to read and create art, and foster an ever-growing audience passionate about children’s literature.

The late Eric and Barbara “Bobbie” Carle co-founded the Museum in November 2002. Eric Carle was the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Since opening, the 43,000-square foot facility has served nearly one million visitors. The Carle has 9,000 permanent collection illustrations. The Carle has three art galleries, an art studio, a theater, picture book and scholarly libraries, and educational programs for families, scholars, educators, and school children. Bobbie’s Meadow is an outdoor space that combines art and nature. Educational offerings include professional training for educators around the country and master’s degree programs in children’s literature with Simmons University. The Museum offers digital resources, including art activities, book recommendations, collections, exhibition videos, and workshops for online visitors. Learn more at http://www.carlemuseum.org and on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram @CarleMuseum.

About EnChroma:

Based in Berkeley, Calif., EnChroma produces leading-edge eyewear for color blindness and low vision, and other solutions for color vision, sold online and through Authorized Retailers worldwide. Invented in 2010, EnChroma’s patented eyewear for color blindness combines the latest in color perception, neuroscience and lens innovation to improve the lives of people with color vision deficiency around the world. EnChroma received an SBIR grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It earned the 2016 Tibbetts Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration in recognition of the firm’s innovative impact on the human experience through technology, and the 2020 Innovation Award in Life Sciences from the Bay Area’s East Bay Economic Development Alliance. For more information call 510-497-0048 or visit enchroma.com.

Media Contacts:

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

Sandy Soderberg

Marketing Manager

P: 413.559-6315

sandys@carlemuseum.org

EnChroma

Kent Streeb

Vice President of Communications and Partnerships

P: 530.908.9225

kent@enchroma.com

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