Curated By Clifford Earl Terry: For More Info, Go Here…
The Video Showcase of the Curated Exhibit
I was asked to be the guest curator for this rare and exciting exhibit, “The Unfolding of the Soul of Black Deaf Expressions,” although the title of the exhibit had not yet been determined at the time. It has been my lifelong passion to recognize artists in the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Disabled Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened (DDBDDHHLD) communities, especially the Deaf People of Color community. I was able to witness the unfolding of the possibly first Black Deaf Art exhibit in the country. This exhibit is long overdue, and I am proud to be its curator.
“The Unfolding of the Soul of Black Deaf Expressions” exhibit included five categories — 1) old days in post-slavery era, 2) abstract, 3) self-portrait, public figures and people from around the world , 4) oppression and liberation 5) intersectionality and the beauty as a Black Deaf person. Those exhibits were revealed in various medium from sculptures to photography, from painting to collage, and poems to music video. Black Deaf artists expressed their experiences, perspectives of their realities, and their journeys. Artists involved with this exhibit are Black DDBDDHHLD artists who range from the age of seven to eighty years old.
“The Unfolding of the Soul of Black Deaf Expressions” art exhibit has sparked many dialogues among students, faculty, and people outside of the RIT/NTID community. Topics discussed during the exhibit’s run included schools for the Deaf Negro, the existence of Black American Sign Language, and Andrew Foster’s legacy in education for Deaf African children among numerous other topics. This is a success because we learned how to heal together by understanding the meaning of intersectionality and inclusiveness.
