Linda Brant-Malm

Tactile Artworks

Founder

Saint Paul, MN

email: Linda@TactileArtworks.com

website: TactileArtworks.com

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Tactile Artworks, St. Paul, MN

Founder

2016-Present

·       Designing and building tactile art and learning programs for people coping with vision loss and those wanting to learn about blindness.

·       We focus on people’s journey of facing diagnosis, dealing with loss, adapting to change, fear, isolation, finding hope and healing.

. Our artist-led interactive presentations with storytelling of vision loss are educational, therapeutic, inspiring, and playful.

 

VStar Entertainment Group (formerly VEE Corp), Minneapolis, MN

Costume Technician

2005-16         

·       Built licensed costumed characters for staged productions: Sesame Street Live, Care Bears Live, Dragon Tales Live, My Little Pony Live, Barney & Friends Live, Hello Kitty’s Supercute Friendship Festival, Curious George Live, others

·       Built licensed mascots and costumed characters for sports teams, corporations and amusement parks

 

Camp Snoopy at Mall of America (formerly Knott’s Camp Snoopy), Bloomington, MN

Costume/Visual Specialist

1992-2004     

·       Interpreted, designed, drafted patterns, purchased materials, and supervised stitching of licensed costumed characters and props for staged performances and appearances

. Budget planning and purchasing materials for costumes

·       Designed and coordinated visual displays for special events

. Refurbished costumes for animatronics

·       Researched and developed safety features for park rides

·       As Safety Representative, developed a company wide MSDS organizational plan and reduced an OSHA fine, as well as made recommendations for safety upgrades

 - Grand Opening Team member

Tamarack Rehabilitation Services, St. Paul, MN

Pediatric Seating Technician

1995-2000

  • Designed user-friendly, colorful, cozy, seating cpvers for kids with disabilities

  • Developed design standards and processes to deliver cost effective pediatric seating solutions

EDUCATION

1975-77          Minneapolis College of Art & Design, Minneapolis, MN. Bachelor of Fine Arts, area of concentration: Theater Design

1973-75          Macalester College, St. Paul, MN. Visual Arts

LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS

2018 MN Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, St. Paul, MN. Credential ID Partners in Policymaking 35

2017 Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Yorktown Heights, NY. Credential ID Guide Dog Handling

2017 Vision Loss Resources, Minneapolis, MN. Credential ID Adjustment-to-Blindness Training

PROJECTS

2000-2002 Why, Charlie Brown, Why? republication advocate

Independently led campaign for the successful republication of Charles Schulz’ Why, Charlie Brown, Why? A Story About What Happens When a Friend is Very Ill by Ballantine Books. United Media Enterprises, NY, NY, in coordination with the Schulz estate. This book project, followed my design of Little Green Booties, sponsored by MetLife for Peanuts on Parade in St. Paul, MN. My statue brought worldwide media attention to childhood cancer by honoring the book Why, Charlie Brown, Why? by Charles Schulz.

 GRANTS and AWARDS

1999 & 2005 Honored Volunteer, Stonebridge Elementary

2003                Bloomington Diamond Service Award, Best Heart of House Personnel

2002 Phipps Center for the Arts, Encore Award

1991 Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic, Benefit for Childhood Cancer Research at Children’s Hospitals of MN, Hall of Fame Award

SKILLS

Inspirational Storytelling, Empathetic Listening, Playful Teaching, Visual Art Design, Visual-Spatial Relations, Ergonomic Design, Traditional and Non-Traditional Design Techniques, Theatrical Set, Prop, and Costume Design, Flat Pattern Drafting, Scenic Painting, Perspective Drawing, Scale Model Drafting and Building, Hand Built Pottery, Foam Construction, Stained Glass Design and Building, Blindfolded Woodworking with Power Tools

 

VOLUNTEERING

2013-Present Research Participant

University of Minnesota, Low Vision Lab

  • Ongoing participation in studies for the psychological effects of going blind.

1986-2008 Research Participant

Harvard University Berman-Gund Lab & University of Minnesota Low Vision Lab

  • Meeting and working with researchers and other study participants, I have come to know the dedication in finding a cure and have witnessed the adapting that persons with vision loss face as we work tirelessly to problem solve multitudes of daily living situations. Facing diagnosis, loss, adapting, fear, isolation, hope, and healing, all lead to finding our purpose.

2022 Table Leader at breakout sessions on the subject of audio description.

Volunteer Summit at Vision Loss Resources, Little Canada, MN

1989-2014      Theatrical Production Design Coordinator

Stonebridge Elementary, 1st Grade Language Arts Program, Stillwater, MN

·       Designed and built costumes, props and scenery for over 30 rotating theatrical productions, performed bi- monthly.

·       Incorporated into partnership with University of Wisconsin-River Falls theater arts department, 2014.

 

2001-12           Scenic Painter, Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI

·       Scenic painting and puppetry for theatrical productions

ORGANIZATIONS

Vision Loss Resources Community Services

March 2016-Present Guest Speaker

Rotating, artist-led, interactive presentations with storytelling at: Vision Loss Resources Adjustment-to-Blindness Training, Alumni Group and Continuing Education, and Community Services (Little Canada, MN), Greenhouse Village Co-op, (Roseville, MN), Lyngblomsten Community Services (St. Paul, MN), Sholom Community Alliance (St. Paul, MN), Walker Methodist (Minneapolis, MN), The Wellington Senior Living (St. Paul, MN), Longfellow Healthy Seniors (Minneapolis, MN), Arbor Ridges (Burnsville, MN), Stonecrest Assisted Living (Woodbury, MN), Fairview Community Center (Roseville, MN), The Kenwood (Minneapolis, MN), Parkshore Senior Campus (St. Louis Park, MN), Trinity High Rise (Minneapolis, MN), Regina Senior Center (Hastings, MN), Boutwells Landing (Oak Park Heights, MN), Cherrywood Pointe (Roseville, MN), The Salvation Army (Maplewood, MN), others

MacPhail Center for Music, Giving Voice Chorus

Feb 2019-December 2019 Singer/Care Partner

Where people living with Alzheimer’s and their care partners sing in choruses that foster joy, well-being, purpose, and community understanding.

Lakes International Language Academy (Forest Lake. MN)

May 2018 Guest Speaker/Workshop Leader

Hungry Little Monsters, A Story of Loss workshop with 6th - 12th grade students

City of Lakes Waldorf School

Dec 2017 Guest Speaker/Workshop Leader

Hungry Little Monsters, A Story of Loss workshop with 4th grade students