GREENSBORO, N.C. — A collaboration between UNCG art students and the visually impaired makes its way to the Triad. 

What You Need To Know

  • Industries of the Blind and students of UNCG's College of Visual and Performing Arts collaborated on an art project.

  • Each pair created art that reflects experiences of visually-impaired people.

  • Each art piece is paired with an audio and musical interpretation, as well as a sculpture, for all to enjoy.

The Industries of the Blind is a manufacturing company that employs people who are blind and visually impaired. Art students from UNCG were paired with employees of IOB. 

“I never thought that I would be a blind sewer, but I am a blind sewer so we just do things a little different,” says Afiya Jackson of Industries of the Blind.

Mary Martinez, a recent graduate of UNCG’s College of Visual and Performing Arts said she spent weeks capturing Afiya Jackson’s vision.

“Learning more about this community and understanding what they go through on a daily basis was my biggest takeaway from the project,” she says.

Afiya began losing her sight at the age of nine. She moved across the country from Louisiana to North Carolina. Afiya loves traveling with her children, which served as inspiration for Mary’s piece.

“Everyday is me learning how to do something different," Afiya says. "I travel with my two kids and that’s where the painting came from.”

Each piece is complemented with an audio and musical interpretation, as well as a sculpture and allows people to take in the art, no matter their abilities.

“I can’t see the picture, but what they talked about, what they saw through the picture, it kind of blew me away,” saus Afiya, reflecting on the project.

Five other employees from Industries of the Blind were featured in the collaborative art project. The partnership will continue for the next three years.

The art pieces can be seen on the side of the Industries of the Blind building in Greensboro.