Unique Collection from Deaf Artists Exhibited in Washington

Unique Collection from Deaf Artists Exhibited in Washington

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Deaf Access Solutions, a division of BayFirst Solutions LLC, is honored to announce the loan of 37 paintings, sculptures and mixed-media works from the permanent collection of the Joseph F. and Helen C. Dyer Arts Center at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), a college of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in New York.

This groundbreaking exhibition showcases works of varying aesthetic and form created by Deaf artists from the 1930's through present day. The collection will be on display at the offices of BayFirst Solutions in Washington, D.C. through September 2010.

Exhibited artists include Morris Broderson, Chuck Baird, Guy Wonder, Rita Staubhaar and Jean Hanau, among others, and many of the pieces within the collection are examples of De'VIA - representing Deaf artists and perceptions based on their Deaf experiences. De'VIA is produced when a Deaf artist intends to express their Deaf experience through the medium of visual art and can be identified by formal artistic elements such as contrasting and intense colors, values and textures, the exaggeration of specific features and a centralized focus.

De'VIA is meant to express innate cultural and physical Deaf experiences, including metaphors, perspectives and insight in relation to the environment (both the natural world and the Deaf cultural environment) and spiritual and everyday life.

In conveying powerful messages regarding the Deaf experience, the achievement of this exhibition lies in the ability of the artists to bring forth their unique perspectives and meanings. Through a direct visual communication of these artist's perceptions, viewers are able to enjoy the beauty and creativity of each work while expanding their own visceral and cultural horizons.

"We take pride in our permanent collection of our art from Deaf artists - getting it out for the public to view rather than keeping it in Rochester exclusively," says Robert Baker, the collection's curator at NTID. "We're making part of our collection a little more accessible to the public."

"We are committed to serving and recognizing the achievements of those in the Deaf community," says Robert Rice, President of BayFirst Solutions and a graduate of RIT. "We're thrilled to have the opportunity to share this important collection with our staff and with the external community."

The collection is available to the general public for viewing by appointment, Monday through Friday, during regular business hours. The offices of BayFirst Solutions are located at 6856 Eastern Ave., NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20012 near the Takoma Metrorail station on the Red Line. Please call Ben Eiserike at (202) 541-1010 ext. 417 or email [email protected] for more information and to schedule viewing appointments.

Deaf Access Solutions (DAS) is the professional services division of BayFirst Solutions LLC that is exclusively focused on the delivery of communication accessibility services to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. DAS provides professional sign language interpreting, captioning, and assistive technology training and support. DAS and BayFirst Solutions are both Deaf-owned.