1. Visual Imagination
Instructors: Sandy Hancock & Olivia Hancock
Fall 2013
Assignment # 8
TEXTURE
In this a two (2) part assignment. The goal of this assignment is, both, to employ texture
as a communicative device and as a trigger for evoking imagery.
Blind people read by Brail, which is script that can be read through the sensation of
touch. In this assignment you will write a short story that can be supported through the
sense of touch. You will not be writing in Brail, but rather along with your story you will
create a texture plate that will serve as tactile reinforcement for the imagery in your story.
If you are to help them imagine your trip you will need to guide their fingers over a series
of textures, which will provide them with a tactile sense of the trip The texture plate is to
be made on the 3” x 24” long, piece of cardboard.
Develop a short narrative to be read or told to a blind person. The narrative should be a
short adventure, or a series of continuous experiences, through which you will guide
them. Construct the narrative in a way so that the listener (the blind person) can
“visualize” the events you are about to guide them through. There should be 10 notable
events that occur in your story that can be supported by some tactile sensation.
Adhere the 10 different textures in a logical sequence on the texture strip. Make sure they
stick well and do not fall off in transport and storage. On the back of the cardboard strip
write your name in all caps, using a fine line Sharpie. You may want to do this first…
only a suggestion.
Do not use dangerous materials such as blades, broken glass or anything that will cause
cuts, pricks, burns etc. Do not use illegal substances, anything that can stain clothing, or
be, in any way foul, offensive or unhygienic. Be creative. Go where you’ve never been
before. Make things up.
Therefore: the two parts of the assignment are:
1. The development of a short story. (No longer than a single spaced, typed
page.) Make sure your name is on the paper.
2. A texture plate to support the short story. (Plate surface provided.)
The homework will be presented in class, by you reading the story, while
guiding a, blindfolded, classmates hand over the texture plate.
EXAMPLE OF A STORY:

2. Knowing that the elevators had been out of commission for the last two days, I
decided to take the stairs, near the side entrance of the building, up to my dorm room. It
was 11:00 pm, on a Tuesday, and I was totally wiped, after a long day at school and three
and a half hours of play rehearsal. I slid my ID card * in the reader* at the side door,
held on to the door handle,* and as I attempted to pull the door toward me, I felt a sudden
swing in my direction and …blam.* After a moment, I shook my head to get some
clarity, and while rubbing my forehead, I felt a sizeable bump.* “You OK man?” I heard
a voice. Turning my head toward the voice, to my astonishment; there were two six-foot
fish,* standing on their tails looking at me.
“You OK?” One of them repeated.
“Yeah… yeah, I’m OK… just a little dazed.” I said.
“You sure? “ said the other.
“I think so,” I said, somewhat skeptically. “Must be some party?”
“Take care now.” one of them said.
“Yeah, sorry bout that dude.” said the other.
“That’s cool.” I said, as I proceeded inside the metal door.
Once inside, I gazed forward, toward what I expected to be a staircase. Instead, in front of
me, I saw a cascading waterfall,* with concentric rings* drifting toward me. Looking
down I found myself standing knee deep in a pool of clear, blue water.* To the left of me,
within a huge Marguerita glass,* a bullfrog,* wearing nothing but a straw island hat,*
floated,* freely, on an inflatable rubber raft.* Vaguely resembling my roommate, the
insipid frog waved at me, while casually sipping on the Marguarita, through a long, thin
straw,* undoubtedly plucked from his hat. I dazedly waved back, still stunned by the
sight, when I suddenly recoiled. Feeling a slithery, slimy* sensation at the back of my
neck, creeping down toward my chest, I froze, and then, …nothing. After a moment I
felt as though my body was being gradually drawn backward.* I turned around, only to
realize that I was slowly moving toward, and about to be swallowed by, the long spongy
tentacles* of car wash machine. There was nowhere to go. No escape. The frenzied strips
of soapy cloth* were about to engulf me, while from each side, huge spinning bristle
brushes* were about to strip the scales* from my body. Now, I was up to my gills* in
trouble. My only recourse was to swim upstream…up…up the waterfall I struggled. But,
the relentless, conveyor* pulled in the other direction ever faster and faster until …I felt a
sudden slap* on my face. As I opened my eyes, I heard a familiar voice.
“You sure you’re ok man?” I thought you croaked.
Note: despite references to other body parts, the strip textures are to be felt by the hand
only.
To be presented on the same day as your final project.