Art exhibits are, more often than not, experiences that appeal to our sense of vision.

Having realized the lack of art resources available to individuals with vision problems, Ann Chirdon, an undergraduate photography and art education student, created an art show to appeal to the blind and visually impaired.

The exhibit, titled "Shared Moments: Making It All Come Alive," has run for the past month and ends today at 5 p.m. at the Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh in Homestead. It is the culmination of Chirdon's photography and art education degrees at the Honors College of Pennsylvania State University.

Ms. Chirdon became inspired while attending a Pennsylvania Art Education Association conference two years ago and witnessing a group of classic artworks a group of students had translated into touchable, three-dimensional objects.

"I started thinking about our culture and how uninviting it is to visually impaired people," Ms. Chirdon said.

Ms. Chirdon lives in Oakland, close to the former home of Vision Services' facilities, and soon realized that a large community in Pittsburgh could benefit from artistic resources that cater to the needs of the visually impaired.

"It was so sad because they have so much to say. They see the world from a whole different perspective, and some of the best art in the world comes from people who look at, or experience the world, differently.''

Pieces on display in ''Shared Moments" serve as an accessible introduction to art. Works are connected with a string and clothespins indicating the beginning of each piece. An audio CD guides visitors through the show, encouraging them to touch and offering a chance to hear the artist's explanation on what motivated the creation of each.

Ms. Chirdon's inspirations range from a memory of getting a splinter as a child to remembering the feel and smell of her grandfather's woodshop. Her most personal piece is a collection of three touchable photography books that both audibly and visually described the relationships among her grandmother, her mother, and herself.

Throughout the exhibit, Ms. Chirdon utilizes sound, temperature, light, sand, leaves, fabric and rocks to bring small, powerful memories to life.

Many of Ms. Chirdon's pieces are derived from photographs using rapid prototyping process, an expensive printing procedure that turns two-dimensional photographs into touchable objects. On these physical items, shadows are indicated as ridges and spots of light as elevated points in the structure.

A photo of her friend, for example, was translated into a sculpture in which the left half of her face is significantly lower than the right side. Works such as this make the concept of light more physical and concrete.

At the end of the exhibit, Ms. Chirdon gives a visitor the chance to contribute, through choosing a piece of fabric for a mural, reflecting on the experience in a notebook, or recording a particular memory on tape.

"Art is such a good place for communication," Ms. Chirdon said. "It is something that can bring different people together and help them understand one another."

"This was extremely creative. I was impressed by how easily I could go through it," said Matt VanFossan, 24, of Pittsburgh, who visited Chirdon's show with his seeing eye dog. "Audio tours in museums are a great resource, but tactile art [like this] is rare."

The exhibit was in place from Oct 27 until later today at the Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh, 1800 West St., Homestead.

Ms. Chirdon hopes to move the show to a new location.

For nearly a century, Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services has offered help with programs, such as vision screenings, training for adjustment to blindness, employment support services and senior transition programs. For more information, call 412-368-4400.