Ahhh – A Flag of Our Own

Have you seen the Sign Union flag? (note: scroll down for info on ordering a flag of your own and for this blog entry in French)

Arnaud Balard, signing STAND, with the Sign Union flag

Update: link to video where Arnaud explains the flag https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2wfoh2_to-discover-the-flag-watch-this-video-sign-and-deaf-union-flag_webcam?start=1

you can order the flag at: https://devartivistunited.wordpress.com/store/

Its a GRAND new flag designed by a Deaf-blind artist in France.  His name is Arnaud Balard and I am eternally grateful that i had the good fortune to meet him at the Kentucky DeaFestival in 2012.  You can see Arnaud explain his Surdism Manifesto, which is very similar to the De’VIA manifesto, yet it includes other genres that express information about the Deaf experience; such as poetry, film, theatre.  Surdism, which was coined in 2009, differs from De’VIA, which was coined 25 years ago, in that it utilizes terms such as audism and Deafhood. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc1Ho4i52f8

Arnaud didn’t just idly sit around and come up with the design for the Sign Union flag – instead he engaged in vexillology, studying flags from all over the globe and for different purposes, aesthetics, and messages.  As Dr. Don Grushkin aptly stated, Arnaud’s flag has a very FLAGGISH look and feel to it.  We have seen other logos, motifs, flags, and banners created to try to signify Deaf-folks.  This is the first we have seen that really says PEOPLE OF THE HANDEYE.

When Audism Free America was given the honor of using the Sign Union flag for the first time during the ASL & Deaf Pride parade in April 2013, people were eagerly trying to get their hands on their own personal Sign Union flag.  As the small and large flags waved in the wind – it seemed to shout out – Signing people on the rise and on the move!  I ordered a Sign Union flag and it has been waving through the seasons of falling leaves and falling snow (and i look forward to what it will look like come spring).  It is filling me with joy and hope – love and courage.  This past Fall at the 2nd annual Deaf-mute Banquet at NTID where L’Epee’s birthday and the 100th Anniversary of Veditz’ Preservation of Sign Language film were honored, the Sign Union flag was given out to attendees and later when we moved into the Panara theatre and people wanted to wave applause – many waved the Sign Union flag instead.  This turquoises hand, outlined in gold and resting upon a dark blue background, moves in the wind or when carried as gracefully and freely as our hands do as we use natural sign language

“We were isolated in the midst of society; today we are reunited…Today we have united our intellects, our efforts, our lights; today we constitute one body; all of us, active and devoted members, desire the well-being of that body; today, we who were not, ARE!” ~Claudius Forestier

Sign Union Flag colors:

Turquoise – represents how the Deaf community cherishes Sign Language

Gold – symbolizes light, hope, knowledge, and enlightenment

Dark Blue – indicates Deafhood, an individual and collective journey to combat audism and embrace Deaf gain.  The concept of Deafhood was introduced by Dr. Paddy Ladd who also establied the Blue Ribbon ceremony to commemorate the experiences of Deaf people around the globe.  Dark blue is also the color used by the World Federation of the Deaf.

The Sign Union flag is getting around.  Arnaud thank you so much for creating, caring, daring and sharing.  Long live, long live the emancipation of the Deaf.

Sign Union Flag at the White House Washington DC

Sign Union Flag at NTID Rochester NY

Video of Arnaud Balard introducing his Sign Union flag

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xyfaos_deaf-flag-arnaud-balard-surdist-artist_creation

Ahhhh – A Flag of Our Own!!!!!!!!!

Translation into French via google translator below:

Avez-vous vu le drapeau de l’Union des Sourds ?

Arnaud Balard , signant STAND , avec le drapeau de l’Union des Sourds
Arnaud Balard , signant STAND , avec le drapeau de l’Union des Sourds

C’est un nouveau drapeau GRAND conçu par un artiste de surdi-cécité en France . Son nom est Arnaud Balard et je suis éternellement reconnaissante d’avoir eu la chance de le rencontrer au Kentucky DeaFestival en 2012 . Vous pouvez voir Arnaud expliquer son Surdism Manifeste , qui est très similaire à la manifeste De’VIA , mais il inclut d’autres genres qui expriment des informations sur l’expérience des Sourds ; tels que la poésie , le cinéma , le théâtre . Surdism , qui a été inventé en 2009 , diffère de De’VIA , qui a été inventé il ya 25 ans , en ce qu’il utilise des termes tels que audisme et Deafhood . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc1Ho4i52f8

Arnaud n’a pas seulement les bras croisés s’asseoir autour et arriver à la conception pour le drapeau de l’Union des Sourds – à la place il s’est engagé dans la vexillologie , l’étude des drapeaux de partout dans le monde et à différentes fins , l’esthétique et les messages . Comme le Dr Don Grushkin justement mis en scène , le drapeau de Arnaud a un look très FLAGGISH à elle. Nous avons vu d’autres logos , motifs , drapeaux et bannières créées pour tenter de signifier sourds – gens . C’est la première que nous avons vu que dit vraiment PEUPLE DE LA œil-main .

Lorsque Audism Free America a eu l’honneur d’utiliser les drapeaux de l’Union des Sourds pour la première fois lors du défilé ASL et sourds fierté en Avril 2013 , les gens ont été avec impatience tentent de mettre la main sur leur propre drapeau personnel Union des Sourds. Comme les petits et les grands drapeaux agités par le vent – il semblait crier – Signature des personnes sur le lieu et sur ​​le mouvement ! J’ai commandé drapeau de l’Union des Sourds et il a été en agitant jusqu’à l’automne et dans la neige – me remplir de joie et d’espérance . L’automne dernier, lors de la 2e Banquet sourd-muet annuel à NTID où L’ Epee’s anniversaire et le 100e anniversaire de la préservation Veditz ‘ d’un film en langue des signes ont été honorés , le drapeau de l’Union des Sourds a été remis aux participants et plus tard, quand nous avons emménagé dans la Panara théâtre et les gens voulaient des vagues d’applaudissements – beaucoup agitaient le drapeau de l’Union des Sourds place. Cette turquoises main , décrit en or et reposant sur un fond bleu foncé , se déplace dans le vent ou lorsqu’il est effectué avec autant de grâce et librement que nos mains ne nous utilisent comme langue des signes naturel
«Nous étions isolés dans le milieu de la société , aujourd’hui nous sommes réunis … Aujourd’hui, nous avons uni nos intelligences , nos efforts , nos lumières , et aujourd’hui nous constituons un seul corps, nous tous , membres actifs et dévoués , le désir du bien-être de cette corps ; ! aujourd’hui, nous qui ne sont pas , sont « ~ Claude Forestier

Union des Sourds couleurs de drapeau :

Turquoise – représente la façon dont la communauté sourde chérit la langue des signes

Gold – symbolise la lumière , l’espoir , la connaissance et l’illumination

Bleu foncé – indique Deafhood , un voyage individuel et collectif pour lutter contre audisme et embrasser le gain sourds . Le concept de Deafhood a été présenté par le Dr Paddy Ladd qui a également establied la cérémonie du ruban bleu pour commémorer les expériences de personnes sourdes dans le monde entier .

Le drapeau de l’Union des sourds se fait autour . Arnaud merci beaucoup pour la création , la compassion , l’audace et le partage . Vive , vive l’émancipation des Sourds .

Sourds drapeau de l’Union devant la tour Eiffel Paris France

Sourds drapeau de l’Union à la Maison Blanche à Washington DC
Sourds drapeau de l’Union à la Maison Blanche à Washington DC

Sourds drapeau de l’Union à NTID Rochester NY
Sourds drapeau de l’Union à NTID Rochester NY

Vidéo d’Arnaud Balard présentant son drapeau de l’Union des Sourds

Happy Birthday Berthier

(c) Arnaud Balard. To see more of his works go to https://www.facebook.com/Surdism

Greetings all:

Don’t know who Jean-Ferdinand Berthier is???

– well ya should cuz he is grand.  Happy Birthday Ferdinand Berthier.  We are so glad you were born.  (September 28, 1803 – July 12, 1886).

Berthier was born 210 years ago and was educated at the Royal Institution for the Deaf, Paris School under Massieu and Clerc.  He later became a teacher there.  Activist, statesman, originator of the concept of a global Deaf-mute Nation and the Deaf-Mute Banquets (with Forestier and Lenoir), he died just a few years after the dreaded ICED Milan 1880 congress but had already began to see Oralism take root in France, largely via Desire Ordinaire, a doctor who directed the Paris school in the late 1800s – forbidding LSF and demoting Deaf teachers.

 

See Guillaume Chastel (French Deafman, who is an ASL professor at U of R) explain Berthier’s three names and his contributions to our Deaf-World.  (English summary is below)

http://youtu.be/MyygjBcbUJU

Video is from the Who’s Who French section in the HeART of Deaf Culture: Literary and Artistic Expressions of Deafhood DVD set

https://www.ntid.rit.edu/educational-materials/?controller=product&product_id=33

English text from ASL video by Dr. Karen Christie:

Ferdinand Berthier is known by three name signs. P-on-side-chest was one name sign which symbolizes the fact that he was awarded the Legion of Honor because of his activism challenging the government on behalf of Deaf citizens. The second name sign is 5-palm-down-circles-top-of-fist-of-non-domiant-hand which indicates that Berthier was bald. The third name sign used for Berthier is flat-O-circles-near-ear (added: for beret/hat). Berthier was a student at the Paris Deaf School under Laurent Clerc and Jean Massieu (name sign: put-watch-in-vest-pocket). Berthier was a teacher and writer. His books were biographies honoring important educators of the time such as Abbé de’l’Épée (name sign: clerical-collar+SWORD) , Abbé Sicard (name sign: S-fist-shakes) and Bebián. Berthier was a strong activist for Deaf people’s linguistic rights and rights as equal citizens. Along with two other Deaf Frenchmen, Berthier founded the French Deaf-Mute Banquets in Paris and also an International Deaf organization to address global Deaf rights. (Drawing of Berthier)

Adrean Clark’s art and info on Ferdinand Berthier

(c) Adrean Clark Cartoon and info of Berthier

(c) Adrean Clark cartoon and info on Ferdinand Berthier http://www.adreanaline.com/blog/archive/deaf-profiles-ferdinand-berthier/

(c) Nancy Rourke portrait of Ferdinand Berthier http://www.nancyrourke.com/2012paintings.htm

 “We do not speak, it is true, but think

We can express ourselves just as well with eyes, and hands, and smiles and lips.

Our most attractive discourse is found on the tips our fingers

And our language, rich in secret beauty

That you, poor speaking people, will never understand.”

(excerpt of poem translated from French to English by Mike Gulliver)

 

Portrait of Ferdinand Berthier by Brian Thuringer (c) RIT

“We have been rejected from the banquets of hearing-speaking people. They have

wanted to suppress the language of deaf mutes…And yet deaf mutes have said to their speaking brothers: ‘come among us: join us in our work and in our play: learn our language as we learn yours”… (Ferdinand Berthier)

 

Dr. Paddy Ladd discusses Berthier’s activism in-depth in his book Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood.  Here is one excerpt

Excerpt from Paddy Ladd’s Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood p. 111

May be one of the first Deaf-themed artworks we have.

Deepest gratitude to all the De’VIA artists for allowing us to reproduce their works here.

Thank you Paddy for introducing me to Berthier way back when you came to NTID and my brain was just a wee pea thingy re: Deafhood, our heritage and our collective consciousness.  I’m indebted to you brother.  And KC for all u find & share.

We have shoulders to stand on folks – we just need to find them and … STAND.

And again, overjoyed you were born Jean-Ferdinand.  thank you for all you did and continue to do from afar.  We are resurrecting your Deaf-mute banquets as we inch towards your notion of a true Deaf-mute nation.

NOTE: the term mute was widely accepted by Deaf people (many who could and would still speak when amongst non-signers.  It was AG Bell who stigmatized the term “mute”)