In March 2025, I led a Deaf Art Residency at Michigan School for the Deaf, working closely with students over the course of one week.

Together, we created three large-scale mural pieces: “Hands of Unity,” “Visual Rhythm,” and “Shared Expression.” Each mural was shaped by the students’ ideas, movement, and visual interpretation of ASL-inspired motion.

The process focused on using color, structure, and gesture as a form of storytelling. Students explored how movement can translate into visual form, building compositions that reflect both individuality and collective energy.

What stood out most was the energy in the room—students experimenting, collaborating, and discovering their own visual voice through the process.

This residency was not just about teaching. It was about exchange—where ideas moved both ways and the creative process became shared.

That experience continues to influence how I approach community, education, and collaboration through art.

Explore ASL-inspired artworks and fine art prints that reflect movement, expression, and visual language at JonSavageGallery.com.