Why I Created the Sounds of Silence (American Sign Language (ASL)) Series
There have been many times in my life where I have had a relationship with a deaf person. I have always been fascinated with the way the deaf community conveys their thoughts with only hand gestures and facial expressions. ASL is a beautiful, visual language that is seen rather than heard.
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Because those of us in the hearing world often forget that not everyone can hear us, it becomes challenging and frustrating for a deaf or hard-of-hearing person to feel included. Why wouldn't we want to include everyone as much as we can?
That's how this series came about. I wanted to relay more compassion, spark conversation, and raise awareness about the deaf community and provide another way for hearing people to engage more quietly and effectively. Consequently, I called attention to signs that express positivity, caring, connection, and listening--even if it’s without using your ears.
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My goal was to create 12 paintings that incorporated ASL with abstract art. It was a challenge to depict motion and a disruption to my current practice, but it was a direction that I was excited to explore.
My intent was to enhance the physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual aspects of my own wellness path and of others who view my work. Silence can speak volumes, so the title of this series is “Sounds of Silence.”