Why I Bring Art to Deaf Community Events
Jun 29, 2026
When I attend Deaf community events, I'm not just bringing artwork. I'm bringing a part of my journey.
For many artists, exhibitions are about showing artwork. For me, they are also about creating opportunities for connection.
As a Deaf artist, I have spent much of my life navigating between visual and hearing worlds. Art became a way for me to express ideas, experiences, and perspectives that were not always easy to communicate through traditional channels. Over time, I realized that the artwork itself was only part of the experience. The conversations that happened around the artwork were just as meaningful.
That is one reason I continue to participate in Deaf community events such as the National Association of the Deaf Conference. These gatherings bring together people from different backgrounds, generations, and experiences, yet we share a common visual language and understanding. Art becomes another way to continue that conversation.
Art Creates Connections
One of my favorite moments at any event is watching someone stop in front of an artwork and begin sharing their own story.
Sometimes a piece reminds them of a personal experience. Sometimes it sparks a discussion about Deaf culture, identity, family, or community. Other times, it simply creates a moment of curiosity.
The artwork may begin the interaction, but the real value comes from the connection that follows.
Over the years, I have met students, educators, artists, parents, interpreters, and community leaders through these events. Many of those conversations have continued long after the exhibition ended.
Sharing Deaf Perspectives Through Visual Art
Much of my work is influenced by visual language, movement, identity, and the ways we connect with one another.
American Sign Language has shaped how I see the world. It influences how I think about movement, composition, storytelling, and communication. While my artwork is not always directly about ASL, the visual nature of the language continues to inform my creative process.
When visitors explore my work, they often discover themes that reflect shared experiences within the Deaf community while also connecting with broader human experiences that cross cultural boundaries.
Bringing the Studio Into the Community
Events like the NAD Conference allow me to bring artwork out of the studio and into a space where people can experience it in person.
Photographs and videos are valuable tools for sharing art online, but standing in front of an original piece creates a different experience. Viewers can see texture, scale, color, and detail in ways that are difficult to capture through a screen.
I enjoy discussing the stories behind the work, answering questions, and hearing how people interpret the pieces in their own way.
Visit Jon Savage Gallery at NAD 2026
This year, I will be exhibiting at the National Association of the Deaf Conference in San Francisco, California, from July 1–3, 2026.
I will be bringing a selection of original artworks, fine art prints, ASL-inspired visual art, and video art from Jon Savage Gallery.
As a spotlight artwork for the conference, I will be featuring Under the Golden Arches, available as both an original artwork and a limited-edition print. I will also have additional works inspired by Deaf culture, American Sign Language, identity, community, and visual storytelling.
Throughout the conference, I will be available to discuss the artwork, share stories behind the work, and connect with members of the Deaf community from across the country.
Conference Schedule
July 1, 2026
8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
July 2, 2026
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
July 3, 2026
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Looking Ahead
Whether someone is discovering my work for the first time or returning after many years, I always appreciate the opportunity to connect through art.
The artwork may begin the conversation, but it is the people, stories, and shared experiences that make these events truly meaningful.
If you are attending the conference, I hope you will stop by, say hello, and share a conversation.
I look forward to seeing familiar faces, meeting new people, and sharing my work in San Francisco.
