To whom this may interest,
My name is Lola Storey. I am an artist currently living and working out of Vancouver, BC. I was directed by Preferred Interpreters to WAVLI upon recommendation for an artistic project I am working on that focuses on how language and communication is embodied, and the multiple intelligences that enable thought and emotion to be conveyed through sign language. This project proposal has been accepted to be shared with Polygon Art Gallery this September 20th, so I am seeking members of the Deaf community who are interested in participating.
Here is background information of the project:
The project is titled “Clouds”. It began with my interest in the intelligence of language and communication beyond verbal capacity — body language, psychology, empathy, for example. I started to question what is it that occurs between people while communicating, and how concept and emotion can be conveyed. I was really inspired by sign language when I was at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival in 2017. The festival is great for providing accessibility to the deaf community; With every music stage there is an interpreter that translates the music to the crowd. I found it really inspiring to watch how poetry and rhythm was embodied and performed. This interest was tethered with an interest in language and music and their capacity to culminate collective experience. I decided to look into working with the deaf community and/or interpreters to manifest my ideas. In April, I worked with an interpreter from Preferred Interpreting on this project, which turned out great. I am now seeking to work with a number of interpreters to further the dynamic of the project.
As an artistic project I am working toward creating an installation. My vision is to create a space where viewers could stand in front of a to human-scale video projection of a figure signing the song “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell (for many philosophical and conceptual reasons that contribute to this project). No music would be played, but simply a figure offering the language and emotion of this song. Creating this space and connection would prompt the emotion to be conveyed through the embodied language of not only this song, but “language” as a whole.
Working with a member of the community would mean one day of roughly 3-5 hours of work, recording the sign language of this song on to a digital-SLR video camera. I would compensate however much one would charge for an hourly basis. I have a studio space located in Vancouver with all of the equipment needed.
If this is something that you would be interested in participating in, Please let me contact me at lolastorey11@gmail.com to discuss further. I’d like to work with at least 3 people if possible.
Warm Regards,
Lola Storey
