Brought up orally, when sign languages were banned, with a culturally hearing identity, I never knew that Deaf communities existed until I became immersed in Deaf culture at the age of 18 during my one year stay with a Deaf host family in Chicago. I returned home to England a new person with increased self-esteem and more confidence. I see the transformation as a metamorphosis in a similar way as butterflies.
Since immigrating to New Zealand in 2007, I have become politically active in the local and national Deaf communities, advocating for better rights for Deaf people as equitable citizens in today’s society.
I attempt to use my art as a ‘cultural bridge’ to inform the public about the beauty of sign language through hand shapes that symbolise an English word – parallels of two languages – that everyone can understand and access in a visual medium.
Painting allows me to explore issues of deafness and challenges of communication within many layers of everyday life – particularly as an art psychotherapist and as a mother to a Deaf child.
I have an art psychotherapy practice that is available for both Deaf and hearing people who use New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), an official language in the country, as I am committed to improving the mental wellbeing of vulnerable members of the Deaf community as a disenfranchised minority. The community has its own cultural identity and membership and is made up of persons proud of their socio-linguistic minority status, cultural heritage and NZSL. I have worked in a variety of settings with service providers and organisations in many other roles, such as Arts Facilitator, including Spark Centre of Creative Development, Mt Tabor Trust and Deaf Parents Conferences.
Using art as one mode of communication enables me to express myself creatively and provides potential for social innovation for a more diverse society of today.
Photograph by Ken Downie
Since immigrating to New Zealand in 2007, I have become politically active in the local and national Deaf communities, advocating for better rights for Deaf people as equitable citizens in today’s society.
I attempt to use my art as a ‘cultural bridge’ to inform the public about the beauty of sign language through hand shapes that symbolise an English word – parallels of two languages – that everyone can understand and access in a visual medium.
Painting allows me to explore issues of deafness and challenges of communication within many layers of everyday life – particularly as an art psychotherapist and as a mother to a Deaf child.
I have an art psychotherapy practice that is available for both Deaf and hearing people who use New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), an official language in the country, as I am committed to improving the mental wellbeing of vulnerable members of the Deaf community as a disenfranchised minority. The community has its own cultural identity and membership and is made up of persons proud of their socio-linguistic minority status, cultural heritage and NZSL. I have worked in a variety of settings with service providers and organisations in many other roles, such as Arts Facilitator, including Spark Centre of Creative Development, Mt Tabor Trust and Deaf Parents Conferences.
Using art as one mode of communication enables me to express myself creatively and provides potential for social innovation for a more diverse society of today.
Photograph by Ken Downie
