ASL Slam
Jul 5, 2016
A poet performs a piece inspired by Wangechi Mutu, Me carry my head on my home on my head, 2005. Video still courtesy of Erik Braund
Access Programs presented a special evening of performances, poems, and improvisation on May 6, in conjunction with the exhibition Human Interest: Portraits from the Whitney’s Collection. Hosted by Douglas Ridloff, poet and organizer of ASL Slam’s monthly events, the program was designed to celebrate American Sign Language (ASL) and invite the signing community to break free from the daily restraints of sign language through experimental forms of literature and performance.
A performance highlights the importance of facial expression in sign language. Video still courtesy of Erik Braund
Poets performed composed and improvised pieces inspired by specific works and addressed broader aspects of ASL. For example, one group performance explored the role of facial expression in communicating through sign language. Other games invited audience members to participate and challenge one another.
ASL interpreters communicated the prompts and parameters of these activities to hearing audience members and those less fluent in sign language, but the performances and actions of the games were not translated. This intentional decision served to reinforce the reach of ASL as a visual and expressive language.
Two audience members face off in a race to sign the alphabet. Video still courtesy of Erik Braund
Danielle Linzer, Director of Access and Community Programs, remarked: “ASL Slam was the first time that the Deaf and signing community had the chance to come together in our space to express themselves and create poetry and performance in ASL inspired by the Whitney’s collection. It’s not just a didactic tool that enables us to communicate with a more diverse audience—it’s a powerful expressive and creative language that brings the community together and generates new understandings of American art and culture.”
Check out this short video of the program by Erik Braund.
Learn more about Access Programs here.
By Cody Lee, Interpretation Intern