For three inspiring days, I had the privilege of serving as the visiting artist for an ASL & Visual Arts Residency at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (PSD) in Philadelphia. (https://psd.org/)

This residency brought together students from elementary, middle, and high school to explore how American Sign Language (ASL) can become visual art. Through painting, storytelling, movement, and animation, students discovered new ways to express themselves while celebrating the creativity and beauty of ASL.

The video above captures highlights from all three days—from classroom demonstrations and student artwork to moments of collaboration and creativity. Rather than simply teaching art techniques, my goal was to encourage students to see ASL as a powerful visual language that can inspire artistic expression.

Each workshop explored a different approach:

• ASL Pop Art — transforming familiar signs into bold, colorful compositions inspired by Pop Art.
• ASL in Motion — translating movement into dynamic visual designs using layered handshapes and motion.
• Visual Storytelling — creating sequential art to communicate ideas through ASL and illustration.
• Stop-Motion Animation — bringing artwork to life one frame at a time using students' own phones.

Throughout the residency, I also shared my presentation, Finding My Light Through Art, telling the story of my journey as a Deaf artist and how creativity has shaped my life. My hope was to encourage students to see that their own experiences, identities, and perspectives can become powerful sources of artistic inspiration.

What inspired me most was watching students embrace the creative process with confidence, curiosity, and imagination. Every classroom was filled with energy, collaboration, and unique artistic voices. Seeing students encourage one another, experiment with new ideas, and proudly share their work reminded me why I love teaching through art.

A Creative Resource for the Classroom

One of the activities featured in this residency incorporated the ASL Handshape Game Cards from DawnSign. While originally designed as a game, I introduced the cards as a creative tool to help students explore handshapes, movement, and artistic ideas in new ways.

The cards encouraged students to observe, imagine, and transform ASL handshapes into original works of art, demonstrating that educational resources can also inspire creativity beyond their intended purpose.

Learn more about the ASL Handshape Game Cards here:

dawnsign.com/products/supplemental-materials

A Gift to the PSD Library

Before leaving, I donated a copy of my artist book, Sugar Stripes, to the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf Library.

Although I don't know when I'll return to PSD, my hope is that the book will remain there as a source of inspiration for students for years to come. I hope it encourages young artists to invest in themselves, embrace their creativity, and continue growing through art.

Thank You

I am deeply grateful to the students, teachers, administrators, and staff at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf for their warm welcome, enthusiasm, and support throughout my visit.

Thank you for inviting me to share my passion for art and ASL with your community. It was an honor to spend these three days creating alongside such an inspiring group of students, and I hope our time together continues to inspire creativity, confidence, and self-expression.

I look forward to seeing where these young artists' journeys take them next.

Jon Savage Gallery creates contemporary artwork inspired by ASL, movement, color, and human connection. Through exhibitions, artist residencies, workshops, and public engagement, Jon Savage explores the visual power of language and the universal experience of communication.

Website: jonsavagegallery.com