Hi!

so I'm deaf, and I get new hearing aids every 4-5 years. every time I do this, the sound is different, and I have to take some time to relearn sounds. my most recent pair is a very different brand from what I've previously had, meaning that the sound is very different as well. this, of course, means extra word to relearn sounds. this is absolutely exhausting.

I just find it strange that, while I am relearning a sense, I can't realistically take time off of school. I still have so many assignments and stuff that I have to do, all while feeling like a toddler that's been up too long.

basically, I should be allowed to have a break when I get new hearing aids without having to do 12 billion catch up assignments afterwards

art niche spotlight - De'VIA!!

De'VIA art, standing for "Deaf View/Image Art," is a form of expressive visual art created by Deaf artists!!!

The term was coined in 1989 by nine Deaf artists (Miller [painter], Johnston [sculptor], Sonnenstrahl [art historian], Baird [painter], Wonder [sculptor], Wilhite [painter], Vasnick [fiber artist], Creighton [fiber artist], Lai-Yok Ho [video artist]) collaborating to create expressive artwork to unveil at the Deaf Way Festival and a word to accurately describe their artworks in relation to their deafness. These artists created a mural (below) acting as part of their signatures, serving as the first official artwork made under the De'VIA title.

(Patti Durr, HandEyes)

De'VIA follows a basic criteria of 4 elements:

Deaf/Deaf-Blind expression of affirmation, resistance, and/or liberation

View of the Deaf/Deaf-Blind experience in the world

Imagery/motifs/symbols of the Deaf Experience

Art, Activism, Aesthetics, and Authentic Expressions of the Deaf Experience

(Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture)

It can be identified through expression of the Deaf Experience or any variety of it, rather than by the deafness of the artist; in other words, all artwork created to communicate the Deaf Experience in any way is De'VIA, but not all artwork created by Deaf artists is. It can also be identified by Deaf artists' general tendencies to use bold colors with contrasting values, varied texturing, and exaggerated features in relation to hands and faces!!

(DeafArt.org)

some key De'ViA artworks by key Deaf artists!!

(i preface this with a slight body horror cw)

Bell School, Betty G. Miller

Ameslan Prohibited, Betty G. Miller

(part of the first show focused exclusively on art with Deaf Themes, 1972)

Family Dog, Susan Dupor

Art No. 2, Chuck Baird

(De'VIA exhibited at the 3rd and 4th Deaf Studies Conferences, 1993-1999)

Poetic Hand, Paul Johnston

(part of the first national touring exhibit on Deaf Culture Art, 1999)

(artwork timeline and events courtesy of DeafArt.org)

Addiction

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID:

Addiction in American Sign Language. X handshape hook corner of the mouth and pulls to the side. Movement is illustrated by arms and mouths that are translucent blue and purple in different stages of the sign.

End ID]

Gone

This sign is also used to mean passed away

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID: gone in American Sign Language. Hand in loose 5 handshape slips down through base hand and ends in flat O handshape. The arms are black fading into grey at the bottom. The background is white fading into grey at the bottom.

End ID]

Late Night

Source: ASLDeafined

[Image ID:

Late night in American Sign Language. Open B handshape with palm down sweeps to the side while wrist stays resting on wrist of base hand. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent green, blue, and purple in different stages of the sign.

End ID]

I forgot to post yesterday but DPAN.TV had an interpreter team for the debate. You can still watch it.

[Transcript from DailyMoth.com:

Do you plan to watch the presidential debate on Tuesday night? Donald Trump versus Kamala Harris? DPAN announced that it would provide ASL interpreters, specifically Deaf interpreters, for the debate. You have to go to the website DPAN.tv. They will stream the debate from ABC News and add interpreters. It is a really nice way to experience the debate because whenever I watched debates with just captioning, it didn’t really show interruptions or crosstalk. The captions can’t keep up. But with interpreters, you can see both candidates talking at the same time, and any interruptions from the moderator. You can feel the tone, the drama, or the flow. Nice! So are you ready for tomorrow (Tuesday) night? 9 pm EST. Go to DPAN.tv. Thank you to DPAN for providing ASL access.

End transcript]

Take a Break

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID:

Break in American Sign Language. Both hands in 5 handshape. Dominant hand palm down. Base hand palm towards signer. Dominant hand taps the space between the fingers on base hand. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent green and blue in different stages of the sign.

End ID]

Important

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID:

Important in American Sign Language. Both hands in F handshape, palms down start with thumb and index fingers connected then separate as they move upward then connect again. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent green and blue in different stages of the sign.

End ID]

Vote

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

To register: vote.gov/register

For more information, like registration deadlines (30 days before an election in TN) or to confirm or update registration: usa.gov/voter-registration/

[Image ID: Vote in American Sign Language. Hand in F handshape taps inside base hand in S handshape. End ID]

I made it spacey

[Image ID

The previous graphic, star in ASL, but with a starry pattern

End ID]

Star

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID:

The sign for Star in American Sign Language. Both hands in 1 handshape with palms facing away from signer point up and rub sides of index fingers. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent blue, purple, and pink in different stages of the sign. Background is transparent.

End ID]