A special exhibit at the Parrott Art Gallery at Belleville Public Library ends this weekend but there is hope a permanent installation will live on.
Hands in Commemoration is a landmark festival recognizing our local Deaf culture and the deep significance of the Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf (SJW) in our community.
Founded in 1870 as the Ontario Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, Sir James Whitney School is Canada’s oldest and largest school for the Deaf.
For more than 150 years, it has been a cultural and educational cornerstone, nurturing generations of Deaf students and shaping the fabric of Belleville.
The committee behind the exhibit worked for one-and-a-half years to make the event a reality.
The John M. and Bernice Parrott Foundation provided significant funding.
At the heart of this festival is the powerful exhibition of De’VIA (Deaf View/Image Art), works affirming Deaf identity, sharing lived stories, and
celebrating American Sign Language (ASL) as both a language and a vibrant cultural expression.
Visitors will encounter moving works such as Bi-Languages in Our Life by Vika Rudenko, alongside many other stunning pieces.
The exhibit features eight Deaf artists, 28 elementary and six high school students connected to Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf.
Each artwork is accompanied by a QR code linking to the artist’s statement in ASL with voiceover and captions, ensuring accessibility and deeper connection for all audiences.
Working alongside Janice Drake, chair of the OSD/SJW Alumni Association, Leah Riddell, a Deaf artist and accessibility advocate, designed the concept for a permanent installation spelling out “Belleville” in ASL handshapes.
While a temporary version appeared at the Festival of Lights, the true goal is a permanent metal and plexiglass sign at Zwick’s Island Park—a landmark honouring ASL, Deaf culture, and the legacy of Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf.
Riddell says, “This exhibit is deeply personal to us. It’s a celebration of our shared language, culture, and resilience. For us, it’s about reclaiming space, ensuring that Deaf stories, art, and contributions are seen, recognized, and valued. For the broader Deaf community, it’s a moment of pride and visibility. Many of the artists have never had the chance to show their work publicly before. Seeing our language displayed in a gallery sends a powerful message that Deaf culture is alive, creative, and deserving of recognition. We hope this will grow into an annual or recurring festival that continues to feature Deaf artists from across Ontario and beyond.”
Riddell notes that Sir James Whitney is not just a school but a cultural home. “It’s where we first connected with other Deaf people, learned through sign language and experienced a true sense of belonging. For the Deaf community, Sir James Whitney represents our roots in education and culture in Ontario. It’s one of the the oldest schools for the Deaf in Canada and a place that shaped generations. Its legacy continues to influence who we are today and why we continue to fight for language access and Deaf education.
Adding to the celebration is a newly-created video by filmmaker and producer Alvin Witcher of PAH Media. Witcher, who is Deaf, founded PAH Media to share authentic stories from within the Deaf community. As he explains on his website:
“Something was missing in the Deaf community – there was a lack of sharing information, specifically about Deaf people, our stories and experiences. It was time I rolled up my sleeves and returned to my original passion: making documentaries to share Deaf stories.”
