Fall/Winter 2017

The

deaf

community

’s

premier

arts

magazine

MAGAZINE

Artist: James Boyle

THE INTERSECTIONALITY ISSUE

FOLLOW US!

MAGAZINE

SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE:

feelmagazine.co Do you want to submit your artwork?

feelthemagazine feelmagazine feelthemagazine feelmagazine

SUBMISSIONS GO TO:

feel.submissions@gmail.com

Special Thanks • • • • • • • • • • •

1

Gallaudet University Career Center Gallaudet University Youth Programs Gallaudet University President’s Office Gallaudet University President Roberta J. Cordano Gallaudet University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative Gallaudet University Technology Services Executive Advisor Kojo Amissah Texas School for the Deaf- Ranger Press PNC Bank Brian Gannon Tavier Maldonado

Table of Contents 1

8

Sunday Afternoon Plight: A Review of “Wonderstruck”

19

24

Letter from the Editor

Making Dreams A Reality: Storm Smith

What Does Art Mean to You?

29

38

Steal This Look

Candide: A Political Romp

3

Welcome to our second issue, the intersectionality issue!

FEEL Magazine has come a long way to get to this point and it has been an amazing journey to watch this publication grow and gain a support base.

When the Fall/Winter team was discussing potential themes for our second issue, the concepts of culture and identity kept popping up. Issues of cultural appropriation and marginalized experiences are becoming hot topics in modern society, especially around times such as Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The team decided that intersectionality would be the perfect way to open up this dialogue.

Culture, heritage, and multiple identities are a huge factor in an artist’s work. Typically the audi-

ence can trace the source of inspiration back to the artist’s multiple identities.

In this issue, we have artwork that touches on intersectionality directly and indirectly. Art in this issue discuss different issues and pull from different cultures. For our featured artist this issue, we have interviewed an emerging filmmaker, Storm Smith. For our photoshoot, we met with the cast of Gallaudet University’s Candide.

We hope that you enjoy the compilation of varied backgrounds and mediums we pulled together for this issue. From cover to cover, contemplate the importance of culture, heritage, and identity in art.

A community of passion and pride, we are people who feel.

Welcome to our world.

Editor in Chief

MAGAZINE

TEAM

5

Meet Angie Escamilla, FEEL Magazine’s copy editor! Angie was born and raised in San Diego, California. She is the only deaf person in her family. Currently a second-year student majoring in English with a minor in Spanish, she hopes to become an editor and possibly a teacher in the future. Angie is trilingual and plans on crossing off “polyglot” from her bucket list.

She enjoys writing, traveling, and bonding with her adorable Australian Shepherd.

ANGIE ESCAMILLA

Meet Damir Tuzmukhamedov, FEEL Magazine’s photographer! All the way from Moscow, Russia, Damir is a senior majoring in International Studies. Although his full name has 28 letters in Russian, it actually has 32 letters in English! He plans to enroll in graduate school after graduation. Damir is the only hard-of-hearing person in his hearing family. He enjoys collecting coins, aviation, and reading books.

Damir Tuzmukhamedov

Meet Cahlah Chapman, FEEL Magazine’s director of style and public relations!

Cahlah is from none other than Washington, D.C. She’s all about checking the latest trends out, meeting new people and traveling. Cahlah is the only person in her family that is deaf. She is in her senior year of college and is majoring in government. After graduating, Cahlah hopes to apply for law school or continue studying political science at another university, as well as travel to other countries.

CAHLAH CHAPMAN

“Echo Mode” Ashley Hannan 7

Sunday Afternoon Plight: A Review of “Wonderstruck”

Photo: Myles Aronowitz/ Amazon Studios

By Mikail Baptise 8

As a child I was always under the impression that films shown in selected theaters were supposed to be really good. I thought a group of highly respected film buffs had come to the unanimous decision that these films were so great they weren’t meant to be viewed in a common movie theater like some of my least favorite films. These days, I know that movies that aren’t shown in worldwide theaters are either too controversial or are mainly meant for certain demographics.

The film that I saw on Sunday, Wonderstruck, was clearly made for a certain demographic, but I swear on my life I can honestly tell you I have no idea what those demographics were.

It’s 9:45 AM and I’m finally dressed to impress. My ride to the Landmark E Street Cinema wasn’t anything exciting, but I’ll note that the service was great and move on from there.

Arriving at the theater was an interesting feeling, I had never been to this place before, but I had still come to the impression that the building had been there for an extremely long time. It was as good looking as an old building could be, I guess. Rust stretched across several areas, but it still looked good for its age, this was basically the silver fox of buildings and I was a witness to its glory. I’m a building buff, I appreciated that it was still around. The interior was pretty neat, it was a really cared-for place. The walls were covered with movie promotions and the floors was mopped shiny enough to be a mirror. Since it was an older building, it was designed in a way that forced moviegoers to go down the basement to get popcorn and find their seating area.

I had finally made it to my seat and was

9

ready to see what this “Wonderstruck” was all about. To avoid spoilers, I’ll just explain the premise for those that haven’t seen the film yet. The movie focused on two different storylines during two different time periods.

One plot was a young boy in the 70s who had recently lost his hearing in an accident and wanted to find his estranged father to get to know him. The second event was a little girl (around the boy’s age) in the 20s who was deaf as well, but since birth, and her objective was to find her mother. These two children wound this movie into a world of chaos and confusion, with every step they take until eventually the end of the film clears everything up as if it wasn’t confusing at all.

At the beginning of the film I had just less than half as many questions as the end of the film. There was no introduction, I was just plopped down in a scene that made no sense, and frankly, made me want to leave the theater right then and there. I was given little to no information as to why the film was fixated on these children until probably halfway through the film, but we’ll talk about that later. If there was at least an off-camera monologue, I can say I might have gotten it, but because there was nothing like this I got attached to the wrong characters way too early in the film and I wasn’t as invested in the new characters they tried to introduce.

Before we go into the halfway point of the film, I want to explain the film’s grasp of the deaf world. The director did a brilliant job of emulating this. And to be honest, I think this was probably the only reason the film was made at all. The deaf actress (Millicent Simmonds) who plays the little girl did an awesome job expressing rage when it comes to dealing with hearing parents that don’t know how to involve themselves in the

lives of their deaf children. If I had to guess, I’d say that the people involved in this film were trying their best to show that being shackled in a world without sound is easy if there are those that understand what you’re going through.

The halfway point was a pile up of movies I had seen in the past and I didn’t like remembering them while watching this film.

The two kids were my least favorite part of the film. They both had solid reasoning for their objectives, but they tried to achieve these objectives in the most selfish, foolish, and unexplained ways. The biggest flaw in this film is the logic behind anything that was shown. Why is this character here? Why is this important? Are they this stupid? I needed answers and I was left wanting to jump out of my own skin and take an Uber back to my dorm immediately because I was going crazy from the constant state of not knowing.

I blame the art of this film the most, it would switch from the boy’s life in the 70s in color and then back to the girl’s life in the 20s in black and white so many times that it just felt like they were overdoing the storytelling.

Some points were important, while others were not. Because of the struggle of mixing up the unimportant with the important details, I was lost for the majority of the film.

Julianne Moore is a part of this film as well, in fact she’s one of the leading roles. The film has received some backlash from the deaf community because, yet again, a hearing actor/actress (Moore) was found playing as a deaf person. I love Julianne Moore and her performance in the film didn’t come off as disrespectful at all. However, no matter how great she performed, it still wasn’t enough to convince me about the point of this film.

Out of respect for you, I refuse to

talk about the ending. Every time I try typing about it I get angry and end up having to erase everything because it contains too many spoilers. If I had to describe it in an understandable way, I’d say that you’d want your money back as well as your time. I got out of my uncomfortable bed, just to be slapped in the face by a baloney army of plot holes and idiocy. Be smart and stay in that uncomfortable bed if you know what’s good for you, because just like many of the films I dislike, Wonderstruck, has no place in the line of sight of moviegoers such as us.

- Mikail Baptise

10

The Value

Landon Krentz

Self Portrait #1

Dear hearing friends, What is the value of a conversation? How I love thee, let me count the ways: 11

- Good quality ASL interpreters are $50 to $90 per hour; yet, there is not enough work in the Deaf community - The CI [cochlear implant] processor itself is $9,000, yet, not completely covered by healthcare - A good lip reader can read 30 percent of a language, yet, over a Deaf person still spends over 25,000 hours of being in a sound booth, meeting speech therapists, and seeing audiologists in a lifetime - You can upgrade your iPhone every year; yet, he is due for mandatory upgrades every 5-8 years Lastly, his most precious value of all: his energy. This is something that is more costly than above all.

He faces barriers on a daily basis. There are more hearing people than white people. There are more hearing people than males. There are more hearing people than any other majority groups in the world. Therefore, he is like a river rushing against the ocean.

He is deprived of access, mutual respect and is struggling to express himself without frustration and anger. He is a human being who is thirsty to be included. Hearing privilege is being able to jump in and out of “the fight.” You don’t have to live it everyday if you don’t want to. Would you forgive him for not being patient?

When you see him next time, consider taking a moment on how you would make the experience more accessible and give him a hug because you owe him his kindness.

12

MI QUERIDA MAMI

Angie Escamilla

sus ojos son las estrellas que iluminan la noche en el pueblo, las hermosas olas de Novillero viven en su pelo, su voz es dulce como pan remojado en una taza de cafĂŠ con leche, sembrando y cosechando semillas de oportunidad con la fuerza del rĂ­o en sus manos, como el aroma de los chiles con los que cocina ella es fuerte y poderosa

MY DEAR MAMI her eyes are the stars that illuminate the night in the town, the beautiful waves of Novillero live in her hair, her voice is sweet as bread dipped in a cup of coffee with milk, sowing and harvesting seeds of opportunity with the force of the river in her hands, like the aroma of the peppers with which she cooks she is strong and powerful 13

Ashley Ferrante

14

Artist: Ashley Pabon

11 15 13

Photographer: Ashley Ferrante

16

“Read My Lipz” Artist: James Boyle

17

Artist: Ashley Pabon

18

Making Dreams A Reality:

19

Storm Smith

A while ago I had the opportunity to meet someone who within minutes became my hero. Now, it’s not often that I get impressed, but Storm Smith, currently the first deaf Art Director for BBDO Worldwide, made my jaw just drop to the floor. With so much accomplished, I’m pretty sure she’d make anyone stop to take interest in whatever she had to say.

In my encounter with Ms. Smith (via videophone) I was allowed to ask her several questions in order to set up a good enough picture of who she is for the Deaf Community to see. With each answer she gave me, I became increasingly intrigued in her work and how she became the person she is today. Towards the end of the interview she even gave me some advice and I’m happy to share it with you.

Like many of my peers and I, Storm seeked out tutelage from Gallaudet University, where she would first grab hold of the idea that Psychology would land her in the place she wanted to be. Once she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, she took a different turn and seized a job as a Digital Media Specialist at Gallaudet within a year after graduating from there. I asked Smith, “Why did you take Psychology if you weren’t going to get involved with anything related to that field?”. She responded, “When I first started my major, I thought I wanted to help people with my psychology degree, but I later changed my mind once I got involved with the media.”

Like most people after graduating, Storm Smith found another interest. “I learned a lot from Psychology, my knowledge from the subject helps with my job today, so I’m grateful for the opportunity to have been able to study it at all”, she stated.

After two years of being a Digital Media Specialist Smith moved on to become a Video Producer/Director, again another job she found under Gallaudet University. This was where Smith had really begun to shape her

career path. During this time, Smith had been taking courses at Gallaudet University to get her Master’s in Media Entrepreneurship.

“This was where I felt I belonged, I wanted to be involved in film and create content for an audience.”

Soon after getting her Master’s, Storm took one final job at Gallaudet University before finally becoming BBDO Worldwide’s muse for new inspiration. As a Creative Video Producer, she would soon be the leading cause of over 600,000 people around the world getting to see President Roberta Cordano’s inauguration. “I didn’t even apply, I was recruited”, Smith stated when asked why she took the BBDO Worldwide job. “This job really is a blessing, I am free to be creative and I run ideas with two teams that were also recurited by BBDO as well when it comes to projects.”

BBDO Worldwide is a well-known advertising company with big clients like Pepsi, Foot Locker, AT&T, Mountain Dew, Pedigree, Campbell’s, and many more. Storm being the Art Director as well as a Creative Resident in Creative Residency is expected to work with them to meet their advertising needs. When I asked what BBDO Worldwide’s staff is like Smith responded with, “They’re all really great, it’s a very diverse environment. As the only deaf person here, they are all trying to make an effort to learn sign language by taking classes provided by the company! I really do feel welcome here.”

I was also curious to hear about how Smith’s multicultural background affected her work since it’s not often someone of Storm Smith’s characteristics obtains such a big important position. “Well, I’m a woman, black, deaf, and also queer so, yes, I guess you can say my background influences my work” she responded. I went ahead and pried a bit more, “how exactly?” I asked. She took a breath and began to explain, “With my background, I have a lot to consider when

20

my company works with a big company. For example, whether or not my work is accessible for the deaf. Whether the work speaks to the LBGTQA as well as the female and black audiences, it’s hard but I’m doing a job not many with my background get.”

I went ahead and asked Storm her big goal for her career path, she took a while to think about it, but when she finally replied I realized that there were plenty more people with a burning passion to do something on this earth.

“I want to make a film or maybe be involved in making a show with Hulu and Netflix. I work at BBDO Worldwide’s headquarters here in New York, but I was raised in California, so I hope to one day be allowed to transfer to one of our offices in California. This is of course, a great opportunity so I’m fine with working at this office

23

for a while.”

Just like that I had run out of questions, so I went ahead and asked Ms. Smith what advice she’d give someone who would like to one day be in a position like hers.

“Never give up. Constantly keep your creativity flowing, because one day you’ll meet someone, and they’ll like what they see. Like I said before, I didn’t apply for BBDO, they recruited me. Someone’s always watching, so be proud of who you are don’t be shy to show your work to the world.” Those were the closing remarks from my newfound hero, Storm Smith, maybe one day I’ll be just like her, living a dream…that became a reality.

- Mikail Baptiste

Arielle

I see art in many different forms such as paintings, sculptures, drawings, poetry, literature, and so on. Not just that, I see art in almost everything.

How people present themselves, their style in clothes, how they speak and express their feelings.

How things are in this world— seasons, emotions, life, just everything. It’s all art to me.

Our photographer went around the Gallaudet University campus and asked people...

What Does Art Mean To You? 24

Elijah

I don’t think there is a right or wrong way to understand art. Not everyone sees things the same way so it’s more about perspective. There’s no correct way to understand art, it just depends on how the individual interprets it.

27 25

Above:

Top right:

Bottom right:

Anything trippy!!

Art means everything to me!

I understand the arts through my eyes when I see artwork being presented.

Lisanna Liane

Jacinda

28 26

Chelsea 27

Jamison

Who Am I?

Ruth Jackson

Who am I? SLAM!

CRASH!

BOOM!

The solid, white oak door slammed open hitting the opposite wall, causing the brass doorknob to create a dent. I didn’t care.

Without proper rain gear, I ran outside where I met angry streams of water coming from above. I didn’t care. Instantly, I was shivering from the chill of the rain. I didn’t care. I let my feet carry me across the street and through the woods, I didn’t stop to look behind me.

Why was I running in the midst of a storm? I felt like my life had been ripped apart by a tiger’s teeth. For some, school was a place to learn -- to grow. For me, it was a boxing match, both internally and out where I was always losing. The teachers didn’t care how people treated me so long as I followed the rules, turned in my homework on time and showed up to class. My peers hated me for being black. Some hated me for being a Christian. Some hated me for being Deaf.

That last one hurt the most. Growing up, I had fought who I was for so long. I didn’t want to be Deaf. I wanted to be hearing. I didn’t want to wear hearing aids. I wanted to be able to understand my favorite movies without captions.

I was mocked, I was uninvited, I was looked down upon, I was told, “You don’t like

anything.”They didn’t understand that our interests simply never aligned. I didn’t like large parties and I didn’t like having conversations in the dark. I preferred writing, reading and playing soccer. Is that a reason to make fun of someone? No matter how hard I tried to be hearing, I could not succeed. I felt broken.

GOD! WHY AM I DEAF? His answer?

Because.

Oh, how I hated that. I didn’t understand it.

For hours I was running through the bleakness, with no specific destination in mind. The streaks of rain showed me no mercy as a trudged on. Mud caked on my legs causing my sneakers to feel like army boots. As I took a moment to rest by a big oak tree, I realized something. Each piece of me contributes something positive to who I am. Just because I’m not like those around me, shouldn’t deter me from embracing my deafness. How others perceive me shouldn’t bear heavily, but rather I should be the best person I can possibly be. This thought hit me so hard that for the first time since I left the house, I felt the wetness slide down my face.

Soon, my tears were melting with the clear, albeit dirty, rain. I feel free to be me!

Who am I? I’m African American, I’m a woman, I’m a Christian, I’m Deaf and I’m so proud of it all!

28

The rowdy political romp of the season!

29

Gallaudet University Theatre Department Fall 2017 Production Director: Ethan Sinnott Costumes: Alexa Duimstra Photography: Damir Tuzmukhamedov

PHOTO cover

30

Voltaire’s satirical Candide is brought back to life in this high-energy, colorful production...

31

Follow foolish, naive Candide as he searches to be reuinted with his childhood sweetheart Cunegonde...

32

And watch him run into unthinkable obstacles such as pirate kings, cannibals, and power hungry Inquisitors...

33

AllAshley forwearing theanillusion of love!

H&M dress and vintage high heels.

40 34

Despite these tribulations, Candide persists and in the end...

35

He learns that we all must cultivate our gardens for the ultimate happiness!

36

STEAL THIS LOOK Want to translate the colorful, historical costumes from Candide into your wardrobe?

We can show you how, and for cheap!

37

2.

1.

3.

7.

6.

4.

5.

10.

9.

8.

1. Long sleeved white turtleneck bodysuit (Missguided) $21.00 2. Fringe duster earrings (Forever 21) $5.90 3. Camila skirt (BCBG Maxazria) $139 4. Faux fur scarf (H&M) $17.99 5. Pointed toe jeweled pumps (Target) $42.99 6. Button down shirt (H&M) $9.99 7. Mouton Jacket (W Concept) $107 8. Cotton chinos (H&M) $17.99 9. Original Men’s Samoa (Adidas) $47.50 10. Sunglasses (H&M) $9.99

38

2.

1.

5.

3.

4.

6.

8.

7.

9.

8.

39

1. Velvet jumpsuit (Missguided) $24 2. Tassel earrings (H&M) $12.99 3. Faux fur jacket (H&M) $69.99 4. Maria clear heel sandal (Cape Robbin) $34.97 5. Jacket (H&M) $79.99 6. Flounced top (H&M) $24.99 7. Twill pants slim fit (H&M) $17.99 8. Pumps (H&M) $24.99 9. Tasseled earrings (H&M) $17.99

11.

10.

16.

12.

17.

13 .

14.

15.

10. Single-breasted jacket (H&M) $49.99 11. Rhinestone choker (H&M) $9.99 12. Cotton T-shirt (H&M) $9.99 13. Patterned pants (H&M) $24.99 14. Faux fur O-ring clutch (Forever 21) $19.90 15.

Everly oxford (Fergalicious) $39.99 16. Midi dress (Dress The Population) $198 17. Corlina Ankle strap sandal (Vince Camuto) $99.95

40

artistic timeless unique

deafroot

Top: Stephanie Middle: Maya with ILY sign Bottom: Namaste

Personalize in American Sign Language

www.deafroot.com

Texas School for the Deaf Student-Run Print Shop

Based on campus of the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin, Texas, TSD Ranger Press is a full digital printing and copying center. We have a modern printing facility with the latest Printing and Imaging Technology. Our students learn through hands-on experience from start to finish of the entire printing process.

The only “full-fledged� deaf school-based print shop in USA where Education and Quality counts.

41

www.rangerpress.org

Northwind Traders Newsletter

May 2016

Helping Students Reach Their Career Goals 

Career Consultation



On-Campus Recruitment Program



Bison CareerLink (BCL)



Internship Program



Mock Interviews



GSR 110: Career Development Course



Internship and Job Fair



Career Library Resources

* Career Center - A Unit of Academic and Career Success (ACS)

“FEEL Magazine - We Watched You Grow...”

- The Career Center

Recent Career Center Stats 

90% of students completed an internship by graduation



165 student internships were coordinated by the Career Center



50 or more employers participated in each of our Internship & Job Fairs



2240 student visits to the Career Library



11 Deaf Awareness Training Workshops presented to off-campus employers