“Signs of Compassion”
and other selected works

A tribute to an Emily Dickinson poem expressed in American sign language

 

On view November 6 – December 31 , 2017

Art reception on November 11th  Saturday 6 – 8:30 pm

EBK Gallery [small works].
218 Pearl St.
Hartford, CT

 

“I am intrigued by all the changes and transitions – large and small, real and imagined – through time, space and emotions, that are part of our daily lives. The lenticular process allows me to explore these experiences in a fresh and somewhat cinematic way. During your time with these unconventional photos you are enlisted as a collaborator, controlling the speed, sequence, and ultimately, the significance of the changes that occur. These images will only be as meaningful as the truth that you are willing to bring to them.” -M.B.

A poem about compassion by Emily Dickinson is celebrated here by members of the community, through the visual poetry of American Sign Language (ASL)  – a visual chorus of our neighbors, responding with their hands, to a timely need for compassion.
Nothing good has ever come from clenched fists. It is only with open hands that true compassion, connections and communications become possible.

Each person was posed to match, as closely as possible, the sign of one particular word or phrase from the poem. Since most signs are composed of two gestures, the “lenticular” medium was employed to convey the hand movements of each person. Lenticular allows two images to be embedded into each frame and changes from one image to the other as the viewer walks by, approximating real time signing.

The people in these photos are not pretending to be fluent signers, but they are making a sincere effort to introduce this beautiful poem to the hearing, and the hearing-impaired community as well, in a purely visual way. A silent poetry reading.

 

-Poem by Emily Dickinson

 

click on an image to enlarge or forward through

 

 

View Video

 

Gallery Sheet and Pricing PDF

 

A lifelong resident of Westport, and full-time graphic artist and photographer, Miggs has designed hundreds of logos, print material, and websites, for commercial and non-profit clients throughout Fairfield County since 1972. He also designed the Westport Town Flag, a U.S. Postage Stamp,  and four TIME Magazine covers, one of which, along with the Easter Egg, reside in the Smithsonian Institution.

He has won much acclaim for his work with lenticular imagery exhibited throughout Fairfield County, Connecticut,  and in private collections across the country. In 2016, he was selected as the first Artist-in-Residence at the Westport Library,  during which time he created “Signs of Compassion”.

“Tunnel Vision”,  his permanent lenticular installation in downtown Westport has received unamimous raves since its creation in 2014 , including a visit from the Governor.  www.tunnelvisionart.com.

His first book, “The What If Book of Questions”,  published last year,  was also met with critical acclaim.