Global Deaf Connect

Global Deaf Connect

  

• Artist: Nancy Rourke
• Title: Global Deaf Connect
• Media: Oil on canvas
• Dimensions: 30 in. x 40 in.
• Date: 2011

• Biographical Information: Nancy was born deaf in San Diego. She says she began painting at the age of six. She later on graduated from the National Technical Institute of the Deaf and Rochester Institute of Technology in New York and earned her master's degree in computer graphic design and painting. She was in the graphic design field for 20 years, and it wasn't until 2010 when she focused her career on Deaf art. She was very excited to finally be able to express her feelings and experiences through her paintings. Nancy continues to paint today and sells her work online. She is a popular artist within the Deaf community. (Biography)
• Artist's Statement: "My work has a centralized focus that makes a theme; resistance, affirmation and liberation art.
  I create words, images, colours and all of the construction that show blue tapes, yellow lights, hands, eyes, elephant, horse, strings, cracks, bandaids and so on.  Primary colours are what I use. I also use monochrome for reinforcement. These elements make a big exposure to both Deaf and Hearing society."
• Background Information: "This painting is about the Deaf people around the world who are connected. Regardless, of their whereabouts, their cultures and language, the Deaf people connect instantly because they are Deaf. Each country has its own abbreviation. American Sign Language: ASL, French Sign Language: LSF, Italian Sign Language: LIS, etc. This is a second version of the original painting Unity of Global Signing."
• Connection to Theme: I believe this piece connects to my theme because in the Deaf community, people are very close. They are more like a big, giant family. This is an important aspect of Deaf culture. It is crucial to maintain strong relationships within the community in order to continue to be a member. I love how Nancy involved Deaf people from all around the world in this painting and not just in the United States. As discussed in the background information section, it is true that all Deaf people automatically connect even if they've never met. For example, if a Deaf person from California met a Deaf person from Paris, they would instantly click and become great friends and always stay in touch; it's just how they are and how their culture is. They make up a cultural and linguistic minority, so it is a good chance that all Deaf people will be close with one another. The hands in the painting are signing the word "relationship." Deaf people from all over the world have close relationships simply because it's their culture. I chose this painting because Nancy's work is very unique and different from a lot of other artists I've seen. I like how she uses the same, basic colors and still can create beautiful and meaningful messages from them. Nancy is a wonderful example of a Deaf artist and she has many, many other Deaf-related artworks. 

Artist's statement (ctrl + click here)
Background information (ctrl + click here) 
Painting information (ctrl +click here)