INTENTIONAL GATHERINGS

Deaf Artists

Opening title card is deep purple with Invisible Practice logo, and simple white text beneath a dividing line: “Intentional Gatherings, a community consultation series.”

Opening shots focus on bundles of sweetgrass, sage, and tobacco, a table full of paper and colouring material, and juice boxes and snacks. Someone is arranging the snacks while another person leans over a table with a marker.

Focus on one young white person signing: “I’m looking forward to other Deaf artists gathering to share their thoughts with us and hear their perspectives about what the future of Deaf art would look like.”

Cut to several short clips focusing on various individuals, most of whom are signing. They are inhabiting a theatre-like space with several tables arranged in a large circle and a black-box space beyond where they write on large poster paper stuck on the walls. It is an energetic and thoughtful vibe.

A different young white person signs: “I feel like this is becoming more real. The Invisible Practice was a thought with a lot of possibilities and now we are putting an action to it.”

Final clip shows the TIP newsletter on someone’s phone, and they place it facedown on a table. End with the TIP logo against black background.

Click the image below to read our full report.

ASL translation available here.

A group of people stand in a black-box space, conversing in sign. Several large posters with handwriting are stuck up on the walls.

Black and white. A middle-aged white woman draws on a large note taking poster on the wall. Several people are in the background.

A young Syrian man with black glasses gazes off-frame, perhaps watching someone. He is seated with several others.

Black and white. A young Ukrainian woman looks at the camera with a small smile. Behind her, another person is facing away and writing on a large note taking poster on the wall.

A young white man with shoulder-length curly hair laughs heartily while seated at a table. Another person is just behind them.

Black and white. A middle-aged white woman signs while seated at a table. Three others look on.

A young white man has his back to the camera while he addresses a room of people in sign. They are seated at tables in a loose circle.

Black and white. A Black woman wearing a nose and mouth mask holds a camera while gazing to the side.

A young Filipino man writes on a large note taking poster stuck on the wall. Another person is doing the same further behind him.

Black and white. Four people are gathered around a large note taking poster stuck on the wall. One person points at a handwritten line while signing with another person.

A middle aged white woman seated at a table signs while two others look on.

Black and White. A young Tamil person hand-waves for applause along with the circle of people, some seated and others standing.

We gratefully recognize Connect Society’s support and expertise in providing accessibility support for DeafBlind participants.

The Intentional Gatherings community consultation series was made possible with generous funding from Canada Council for the Arts’ Sector Innovation and Development program.