Chico artist Valerie Rose continues to champion art as a form of communication, advocating for the representation of Deaf and Disabled artists.
“Instead of looking at it with sympathy, we might want to look at it and think I have something to learn here, that this has something to show me another perspective on the world that is really valuable."- Valerie Rose, artist
Rose, who is hard of hearing and from a Deaf family, founded and instructs community American Sign Language (ASL) classes at Sign Club. She also coordinates the “Sign Sign Project,” a public arts campaign promoting ASL education and Deaf culture.
“Even though we may have different languages or we may not be able to communicate through spoken, sign or written text, we can still understand each other more through the art that we make,” Rose said.
Rose believes that viewing artwork by Deaf and DeafDisabled artists can foster a deeper understanding of other human beings.
They believe audiences often view art by Deaf and Disabled creators through a sympathetic lens, focusing more on the artist’s disability than the art itself.
Rose says a sympathetic viewpoint can hinder true understanding of the artwork. Disabled artists often find it disrespectful when viewers ask how they can offer further assistance.
“Instead of looking at it with sympathy, we might want to look at it and think I have something to learn here, that this has something to show me another perspective on the world that is really valuable,” Rose said.
On Sept. 24, Rose will give a a lecture that explores art by Deaf and DeafDisabled artists, highlighting its role in understanding deaf knowledge, values and experiences.
They also aim to convey that art functions as a verb — a form of "languaging," or communicating — rather than a static noun.
“What this means is that deaf people often struggle with communicating, not just in reading and writing, but also with sign language, their natural form of languaging is blocked."- Valerie Rose, artist
“Somebody who has experienced language delay in the form of reading and writing and in speaking or signing can still language with visual images, can still make a picture,” Rose said.
Deaf artists frequently create works that convey their unique Deaf perspectives on knowledge, their values and experiences, offering a viewpoint the audience isn't aware of or hasn’t experienced.
“I want the viewer to be able to walk away learning a little bit more about the Deaf community and about some of the different perspectives that deaf people have in this world, and that deaf people are not all the same. It's a spectrum,” Rose said.
Rose highlighted the importance of language deprivation and language delays.
They say that a majority of deaf children are born to hearing families, with only a small percentage learning sign language. It often means that they are not exposed to sign language early on, leading to cognitive issues, isolation and mental health challenges.
“What this means is that deaf people often struggle with communicating, not just in reading and writing, but also with sign language, their natural form of languaging is blocked,” Rose said. “So if we can look at their other ways of languaging, such as artwork or images that they draw, we can better understand them as humans. That's really important.”
Rose currently has two works of art displayed in Chico. Both “Bloom” and “Sign Language is as Necessary as it is Beautiful” are prime examples of Rose’s mission.
You can find these murals behind North Rim Adventure Sports and on the side of Show Love Thrift Store.
