Connect
For Artists Aistė Rye and @cancelaudism, belonging is deeply rooted in their life experiences; it is part of their creative essence. Due to the challenges they often face in an audio-centric world, they understand the meaning of belonging well.
Rye and @cancelaudism designed Connect as a bridge for building a sense of belonging in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities. Connect intends to shine a light on Deaf culture and American Sign Language. The linked hands are signing the word “connect,” inviting the audience to embrace alternative modes of communication that are supportive of people who do not always have access to sound and/or speech (i.e., hearing and talking). The forest shows the dark side of audism and the lush and vibrant environment shows the beauty of a silent world using signing language. Most of all, Connect aims to encourage viewers (Hearing & Deaf/Hard of Hearing people) to see each other’s perspectives, and ultimately, connect with each other to create a sense of belonging in our community.
Location: N. 63rd St. (Phinny Ridge), Seattle, WA
Date Designed
10/2023
Project Overview
Q&A with the Artists
Describe your process for envisioning and creating this piece.
As two artists who are actively engaged in the art and Deaf communities in Seattle, we both understand from experience the miscommunications and disparities that commonly happen between the hearing and Deaf worlds. We envisioned a mural design that could help bridge the gap between the two worlds and invite the viewer to get curious about sign language, which has a major influence on Deaf culture. The design is part invitation to learn about ASL and Deaf culture and part inspiration to connect with the Deaf community. This could be in the form of signing up for an ASL class, attending a local ASL meetup group, or advocating on behalf of Deaf people to have access to resources like ASL interpreters and closed captioning.
How did you overcome some of the unique challenges of this project?
Living in Seattle means dealing with unpredictable weather, especially in the fall. The rainy days made it challenging to keep paint dry on some areas of the mural. However, with some patience and sunshine, we were able to mitigate the issue to finish the project.
A unique challenge Rye faced was communication. Not all volunteers and neighbors who walked by to ask about the mural knew ASL or how to communicate with Deaf/HoH people (the artists) so she was proactive about explaining the circumstances (and the story behind the design) while sharing our communication needs for having a conversation together.
What originally drew you to this project?
Northwest Seattle is a special place for Rye. It was the first region of Seattle she visited in December 2020 as part of her plan to move to the Emerald City to start her career as an artist. Her visit entailed a detailed itinerary of public art sites in the area, local creative businesses like Seattle Recreative, and local restaurants and bakeries to explore. She is grateful to one of her now closest friends who then lived in Phinney Ridge and showed her around the Northwest Seattle neighborhoods. Because of this visit, she felt right at home and decided to brave the unforeseen pandemic and make the move in July 2020. When @cancelaudism shared the call for artists with Rye, Rye envisioned the exciting possibility of collaborating with another talented Deaf artist to create an inspiring Deaf Art (De’VIA) design for the Phinney community. The freedom to express and share the Deaf experience on public art was an exciting and amazing opportunity.
What do you hope people get out of your artwork?
Rye hopes Connect will bring more joy, beauty, and inspiration to the Phinney community and all who pass by. The last three years in the pandemic have been incredibly challenging for most people and our ability to connect with others has significantly diminished, causing feelings of isolation and loneliness. She hopes Connect will encourage viewers to reach out to the important people in their lives to reconnect. Most of all, Rye created this design with the intention of motivating people to learn ASL and learn about Deaf culture. Through this, she hopes Deaf people will feel more seen and supported by the Hearing community, and the Hearing community more connected to the Deaf community. Rye hopes this mural becomes a bridge to a greater sense of belonging in our city.
What, if anything, should people really know about this piece or your work in general?
For Rye, art is a reflection of our inner world, feelings, and experiences. Connect is a special project as it represents her journey into Deafhood and passion for bringing people together. As a Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Queer woman raised in post-Soviet Lithuania and coming of age in America, Rye engages with the world from a position that transcends multiple cultural binaries. Rye’s artwork is informed by her experiences navigating an able-bodied and patriarchal society, and seeks to challenge assumptions about culture, gender, feminism, and the Deaf experience. Navigating her multiple “in between” identities has motivated her to see different perspectives, bring people together across binaries, and meet people where they are. Learn more about Rye’s work.
Want to work with me?
Tell me more about your vision for a mural project by completing the form below. I will respond to your request within 1-2 business days and schedule a 15-minute free consultation meeting.