Objectives

You will…

•learn the difference between Deaf artists and De'VIA artists 

•understand the De’VIA is an important part of Deaf Culture and Deaf History

•observe the various De’VIA themes and artworks from different De’VIA artists

•explore ways to include De’VIA in your classroom

What is De’VIA?

De'VIA is short for Deaf View/Image Art

http://www.facebook.com/pages/DeVIA-Artists/189802827726501

De’VIA ?

• There is a difference between Deaf artists and De'VIA artists. 

• Deaf artists are those who use art in any form, media, or subject matter, and who are held to the same artistic standards as other artists. 

• Example… 

Redmond Granville

De’VIA ?

• De'VIA is created when the artist intends to express his or her Deaf experience through visual art. 

“Deaf art expresses the values of Deaf culture— the beauty of sign language and its

painful oppression, the joys of Deaf bonding, communication breakdowns between

signers and non-signers, the discovery of language and community, and the history of Deaf

people,”

– Chuck Baird

http://www.gallaudet.edu/clerc_center/chuck_baird_shares_his_vision_of_deaf_art_and_culture.html

Viva De'VIA

In 1989 nine Deaf artists came together to discuss Deaf art

and came up with the name Deaf View/Image Art

(De'VIA).

The 9 Deaf artists

1. Dr. Betty G. Miller, painter;2. Dr. Paul Johnston, sculptor; 3. Dr. Deborah M. Sonnenstrahl, art historian; 4. Chuck Baird, painter; 5. Guy Wonder, sculptor; 6. Alex Wilhite, painter; 7. Sandi Inches Vasnick, fiber artist; 8. Nancy Creighton, fiber artist; 9. Lai-Yok Ho, video artist.

Viva De'VIA

• “De'VIA represents Deaf artists and perceptions based on their Deaf experiences. It uses formal art elements with the intention of expressing innate cultural or physical Deaf experience. These experiences may include Deaf metaphors, Deaf perspectives, and Deaf insight in relationship with the environment (both the natural world and Deaf cultural environment), spiritual and everyday life.”

(De'VIA Manifesto, 1989)

• De'VIA may also be created by deafened or hearing

artists, if the intention is to create work that is born of their Deaf experience (a

possible example would be a hearing child of Deaf

parents).

www.rit.edu/deafartists

http://www.deafart.org/

De’VIA Themes

• Hands• Sounds• Faces• ASL

• Resistance• History • Homage

Homage to Clerc by

Jean Boutcher

Milan Italy by

Mary Thornley

Resistance vs. Affirmation Art

Resistance Deaf Art

AudismOralism

Mainstreaming Cochlear ImplantsIdentity Confusion

Eugenics

Affirmation Deaf Art

EmpowermentASL

AffiliationAcculturationAcceptanceDeafhood

Betty G. Miller

Betty Miller is one of the first Deaf American artist to express her Deaf experience through her artworks.

• Dr. Betty G. Miller of Philadelphia, PA was born to deaf parents in Chicago, Illinois. She is a well-known professional Deaf Artist who taught art at Gallaudet University for 18 years.

• In 1971, Betty G. Miller began expressing her Deaf experiences through her paintings and drawings. Since then her work has inspired several Deaf visual artists to create work based on their Deaf experiences

Betty Miller

Artist's Statement • "Much of my work depicts the Deaf

experience expressed in the most appropriate form of communication: visual art.  I present both the suppression, and the beauty of Deaf Culture and American Sign Language as I see it; in the past, and in the present.  I hope this work, and the understanding that may arise from this visual expression, will help bridge the gap between the Deaf world, and the hearing world."

Betty Miller’s Resistance Deaf Artworks

Amenslan Prohibited

Education Deaf

Betty Miller’s Affirmation Deaf Artworks

Growing in ASL

Deaf Picnic

• Chuck Baird was born deaf in Kansas City and along with his three older sisters, went to the Kansas School for the Deaf.

Chuck Baird’s Resistance Deaf Artworks

Mechanical Ear

Oppression

Chuck Baird’s Affirmation Deaf Artworks

This simple exchange is symbolic of the breakthrough from isolation and loneliness (that many deaf children feel before they meet other deaf people) to the welcoming

arms that draw a deaf newcomer into the fold of the Deaf culture

http://www.warrenmillerart.com/welcome.html

Indianapolis, Indiana

Warren Miller’s Resistance Deaf Artworks

Interview

Family Tradition

Warren Miller’s Affirmation Deaf Artworks

Videophone

Dummy Hoy

• Susan Dupor was born deaf and has an older brother who was born hard of hearing.

Susan Dupor

Artist's Statement • "As an artist who is Deaf, I am

constantly exploring my identity as a Deaf woman.  I have been painting within this theme for the past ten years and my perspective has changed throughout the years. There were moments when I vented my emotions, and others when I wanted to celebrate the uniqueness of Deaf culture and seek the ironies of being Deaf in a hearing world."

Audism

An attitude based on pathological thinking, which results in a negative stigma toward anyone who does not hear; like racism, sexism, audism judges, labels, and limits individuals on the basis of whether a person hears and speaks.

Ann Silver

• Born deaf into a hearing family in Seattle, WA, in 1949, Ann Silver attended public schools.

• As professional support services did not exist, her childhood education, she says, "was 90% guesswork, 10% art."

For over three decades, Silver has been a driving force for the recognition and inclusion of Deaf Art in the world of art, architecture,

public art, and academia. Latest addition to her repertoire are several murals integrated into the walls of a building at the

Washington School for the Deaf in Vancouver, believed to be the world's largest ASL-based public art.

Guy Wonder

• A 3rd generation Deaf man, Guy was raised in a Deaf family and attended a residential school for the Deaf in Vancouver, Washington

Video Clip

“Guy Wonder Discusses His Artwork”

Grandpa’s Treasures

Welcome Friends

Dr. McGregor

He helped with establishing a national organization for Native American Deaf individuals (now called

Intertribal Deaf Council).

Self Portrait Gourd

Orkid Sassouni

Girl Talking

Scott Upton

• Scott Upton is Deaf and is from Canada. Scott is a desktop publisher, graphic designer, digital artist and

pressman. He lives and works in Kingston, Ontario.

Dolphins

Love

Lee Ivey

Bernard Bragg

Deaf Power

De’VIA Lessons in your Classroom

Deaf Artists in America: Colonial to

Contemporary by

Deborah M. Sonnenstrahl

Gallaudet University Deaf Collections and Archives – “Search the Artwork and Artifacts

Catalog”

http://www.gallaudet.edu/library_deaf_collections_and_archives.html

• “Understanding De’VIA by Nancy Rourk”• “Nancy Rourke 2011 Paintings De’VIA/Deaf Art”

• “Interview with Deaf Artist nancy Rourke”

• “American De’VIA Artist: Chuck Baird and his Journey (2010)

• “Charles Wildbank, Deaf Artist”• “De’VIA Artist- Pam Witcher”

www.rit.edu/deafartists

www.rit.edu/deafartists

De’VIA Themes

• Hands• Sounds• Faces• ASL• Resistanc

e• History • Homage

1.“Expressions of Culture”

2.De’VIA

3.“De’VIA Posters”

www.rit.edu/deafartists

Introduction Hands Sound Faces

ASL Resistance HistoryHomage

Viva De'VIA

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

www.rit.edu/deafartists

By last name:

A-F G-P Q-Z

Animation Cartoons Ceramics Digital Art Mixed Media Painting

Papermaking Photography Printmaking Sculpture Stained Glass Textiles

Explore an Artist

• What kind of artist is Matt Daigle?

• Did Matt grow up in a hearing or a deaf family?

• Pick your favorite art work from Matt Daigle to show to class (via Internet) and explain why you like it.

• What kind of medium does Scott Upton use?

• Where does he live?

• What was his first design?

• What is his favorite design?

• Pick your favorite artwork from Upton to show to

class (via Internet) and explain why you like it.

www.rit.edu/deafartists

Artist Interviews

Collage

http://www2.bakersfieldcollege.edu/tmoran/asl1%20posters.htm

http://www2.bakersfieldcollege.edu/tmoran/asl1%20posters.htm

Homage

http://www2.bakersfieldcollege.edu/tmoran/asl1%20posters.htm

www.rit.edu/deafartists

Forming of Me by Heath Focken

Pink Girl by Emily Cooper

• What is your opinion about the Resistance and Affirmation artworks .

• Do you find ways to express your frustrations and triumphs in life? If so, how?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of being deaf?

• Who is your favorite deaf artist and why?

Questions to ask your students