This fall students in UNCG’s School of Art’s Animation concentration had the opportunity to connect with employees at Industries of the Blind (IoB) through storytelling.
Students first toured the IoB facility on Gate City Boulevard in Greensboro and then returned to interview and to hear stories from several IoB associates. In pairs, they collaborated on creating character designs and storyboards to envision the narratives as animated films of the associates based on their favorite animal. Before returning to IoB to pitch the ideas back to the original storytellers, students also discussed ways to make visual content accessible for individuals with visual impairment and sought out examples of audio descriptions as a guide for ways to share their work. As part of the culminating project and to show gratitude to the employees, the students created tactile 3D printed versions of each animal character design as a keepsake of their shared experience.
Assistant Professor of Animation Dan Hale reflects: “The goal of the project was to give students an opportunity to realize the awesome responsibility that comes with telling someone else’s story, while also bringing to light narratives from traditionally under-represented populations. By adapting the story to non-human characters, students also learned to not get bogged down in details but rather to look for universal truths and levels of understanding.”
Idamis Calero Gomez is a UNCG Art student in the BFA Animation program who participated in the program. Gomez says it provided new perspective:
“I realized how privileged I am to have my eyesight, but also it filled me with a profound admiration for the workers at Industries of the Blind, especially the person whose story I got to tell. She lives every day to the max and focuses on leading a happy life and planning her next travel adventure. Sometimes we take things for granted and remembering her positive attitude, even when facing challenges daily, is a great reminder to live my life to the fullest and keep pushing forward like she does.”
Sarah Comella is an Industries of the Blind Associate who participated in the animation project:
“The experience was exceptional. I thought both sides learned a great deal. The students learned that people who are blind are like everyone else with hopes, dreams, and funny quirks that make people unique in their own way. I learned that the students could do things that even though I’m not able to see them, they can show the world that people who are blind can achieve their own goals the same as people with vision can do. It was a wonderful experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.”
Story by Caitlyn Schrader
Photo credit: Dan Hale
Learn more about the UNCG School of Art’s Animation Program.