Deaf and Hard of Hearing Creators and Storytellers You Should Know
Abstract art shows a purple human eye, with illustrated beams of vision coming from it. The eye is surrounded by squares and other abstract shapes evoking a sense of strange wonder. Text overlaid: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Creators and Storytellers You Should Know. Explore Possible.
International Week of the Deaf is September 20-27th and we’re celebrating with a week’s worth of content amplifying Deaf and hard-of-hearing creators, organizations, events, and so much more.
Storytellers and creators weave the fabric of our communities together and also bring Deaf culture to hearing people. Here are a few artists, storytellers, and creators you should check out! There are many more creators out there, so be sure to share your faves in the comments!
Manitoban Creators:
Jordan Sangalang
Actor, physical sketch comedian, ASL translator and so much more. Jordan is a very familiar face in Manitoba, often contributing to ASL interpretations of the news over on the Deaf Resource Centre’s YouTube Channel, in addition to being a member of The Deaf Mime Troupe.
Check out his performances and more on his website.
Bram Keast
A local visual storyteller, Bram is a celebrated artist with a wealth of residencies under his belt. Telling stories via several mediums like illustration, print-making and art installations, Bram is an artist to watch out for. You can learn more about Bram and purchase his work at his website.
David Burke
Deaf storyteller David Burke is often found at events around Winnipeg. With over 30 years' experience as an sign‐language instructor, he’s won ASL Storytelling Literature Awards, and has performed in festivals across Canada, including the Winnipeg International Storytelling Festival. He is a strong advocate for the rights of Deaf People and passionate about preserving Manitoba's Deaf history. He doesn’t have a website, but watch out for his name in local storytelling events!
A black and white photo of David wearing glasses.
Canadian Creators:
Angela Petrone-Stratiy
An internationally recognized teacher, comedian, and performer, Angela is the creator of one-woman plays, and an online web series exploring the oddities of the English language.
International Creators:
Ella Mae Lentz
A well-known Deaf American poet, author, and so much more. Ella is also a teacher and researcher who has shaped the lives of many Deaf persons in America and beyond. You can view some of her poetry below and even subscribe to her YouTube channel.
Christine Sun Kim
A Deaf American artist, Christine is an internationally acclaimed artist whose work centres on giving audiences a sense of the vibrational quality of sound. She’s had installations from Winnipeg to LA and many places in between and has been featured in many art publications. You can learn more about her work on her website.
These are only a handful of the many talented Deaf storytellers, artists, and creators in the world - who are your inspirations?
Explore Possible
This blog post is part of Explore Possible, an initiative by Manitoba Possible to amplify stories, perspectives about disability, accessibility, and inclusion.
Read more at manitobapossible.ca/explore-possible or continue on to our latest posts by clicking the titles and arrows in the bottom corners!