Client: New Mexico School for the Deaf

Overview

We created a series of sculptures for the New Mexico School for the Deaf, 1 interior suspended sculpture as well as 4 exterior sculptures in which our objective was to create fun and delightful pieces that animates the lobby/gathering space and addresses it in a strong visual and inspiring way. The Artworks are visually stimulating, colorful art glass, representative of the deaf experience and American Sign Language. The sculptures conceptually embrace sophisticated whimsy – fun and lively for kids and creative and intriguing for adults.

Goals

The circle form used throughout the sculpture was developed around the idea of the students and faculty of the NMSD coming together to share, learn and grow. The glass sculptures inside and outside send a circle of glowing colors throughout the space via natural light and internal LED lighting. The interior sculpture will be illuminated at night, creating a strong presence inside and outside of the building. The center yellow vertical beacon will glow within the sculpture and light the fused hand signals highlighting the importance of ASL to all.

Process

It was an incredibly communicative process between our group, the staff and students of NMSD. Darcy Ferrill visited and taught the class how to do a new process in which photos and graphics are fused into the glass. The students supplied a number of photos that expressed the energy and spirit of their fellow students at the school. We then incorporated those images into our overall sculptures.