Dyer Arts Center Exhibits

Join us in remembering Robert F. Panara, a groundbreaking figure in Deaf education and an inspirational leader in the Deaf community. He was the first Deaf faculty member at Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf. He also was a co-founder of the National Theatre of the Deaf.

A dedicated educator, Panara served as chairperson of NTID’s English Department and founded the NTID Drama Club, enriching the cultural experience for students. His courses encompassed Deaf literature, film, theater, and biographies, promoting a deeper understanding of Deaf culture and its contributions to society.

In recognition of his remarkable achievements, the NTID theater was named in his honor upon his retirement, serving as a testament to his legacy and influence in the performing arts.

This exhibit celebrates Panara’s life, his revolutionary impact on Deaf education, and the lasting connections he fostered within the Deaf community. Discover the profound contributions of Robert F. Panara and reflect on the importance of inclusivity and representation in education and the arts.

“Background Noise: Reframing Perception” is a deeply personal and confrontational exhibition by Deaf and queer artist Justin Dougan-LeBlanc. In this expanded iteration of the critically acclaimed “Background Noise,” Dougan-LeBlanc draws viewers into a multisensory landscape where sound, silence, identity, and memory collide.

People often speak of core memories and moments that shape the trajectory of their lives. For Dougan-LeBlanc, those memories are rooted in the experience of being born Deaf. He is Deaf. His memories are not heard, but are seen, felt, and understood through a distinct sensory language. This body of work traces that journey from internal reckonings to external perceptions, from isolation to reclamation.

Through sculptural artifacts, textiles, fashion, and video installations, Dougan-LeBlanc opens an honest dialogue about how the world has perceived him as broken, crippled, or less than. But instead of internalizing those projections, he turns them outward, transforming pain into power. Each piece becomes a site of confrontation and storytelling, challenging societal norms and reframing the definition of wholeness.

Created specifically for the Dyer Arts Center, new works deepen the exhibition’s exploration of Deaf culture and queer identity. From shattered busts mended together as a symbol of resilience to looping video portraits that capture the nuance of deafness often missed by the able-bodied gaze, these pieces invite audiences to reckon with the complexities of being seen, categorized, and corrected.

"Background Noise: Reframing Perception" is more than an exhibition – it’s an unapologetic narrative. It invites viewers to rethink the frameworks through which we understand difference. It asks not for sympathy, but for a shift in perception. And it reminds us that what some call background noise is, for others, the very sound of truth.

[ID: A transparency black and white photo of a black bust of a human head. The head has multiple ears arranged in a row all the way around, where the eyes and ears would usually be. The title "BACKGROUND NOISE" appears in bold black text at the center, with Works of Justin Dougan-LeBlanc written just below it.]

Dyer Arts Center will showcase The Merkin Collection Unveiled exhibition, a heartfelt tribute to Lewis M. Merkin (1955–2022)—an actor, artist, advocate, and Deaf interpreter. This remarkable collection amplifies the voices of the Deaf, disabled, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized groups, showcasing a variety of artworks, including some that many have not yet seen. The exhibition will be displayed from February 28 to May 16 in the Ohringer Gallery.

Dyer Arts Center invites you to the opening reception for “The Merkin Collection Unveiled” on Friday, February 28 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Ohringer Gallery at the Dyer Arts Center in LBJ on the RIT campus. This exhibition will feature the remarkable collection of Lewis Merkin, who has gathered artworks over the years to amplify the voices of the Deaf, disabled, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized groups. It will showcase a variety of artworks, including pieces that many have not yet seen.

The reception is free and open to the public but please register via this link to assist us in planning for food: https://shorturl.at/4qbhh.

For more information, contact dyerartscenter@rit.edu.

[ID: The background is a collage of different artworks, showing a mix of colorful paintings, cultural art, and mixed-media pieces. In the center is a semi-transparent box with bold, uppercase text. The title, "THE MERKIN COLLECTION," is in black, while "UNVEILED" is in gold. Below the title, the exhibition dates, "February 28th - May 16th, 2025," are displayed in black text.]

The exhibition “The ART of Book Making: Surdists United Illustrated Children’s Publications” offers an intimate look at the creative journey behind Surdists United’s books, which celebrate the achievements and resilience of notable Deaf Americans. These books highlight figures like the first female pilot from South Dakota; a Deaf-Blind Yale graduate and lawyer; De’VIA movement founders; and artists, activists, and educators across various backgrounds. Established to uplift Deaf creatives and bring Deaf narratives into public spaces, Surdists United began with a Kickstarter campaign that funded its first publication. Deaf illustrators such as Vicki Campos-Hamilton, Laurie Monahan, and Yusuf Yahya, along with art director Nancy Rourke, bring these ancestor stories to life, blending unique artistic styles with vibrant mediums like watercolors, digital art, and mosaics. The exhibit also showcases work by writers and editors Patti Durr and Karen Christie along with ASL poem videos. Through this display of drafts, sketches, and final artworks, the exhibit aims to inspire pride in Deaf heritage and encourage future Deaf creatives to share their own stories.

[ID: The graphic for the exhibition features an ombre design that transitions from blue at the top to white at the bottom. At the top, the title reads: "The Art of Book Making: Surdists United Illustrated Children's Publications." This section displays images of four colorful book covers, each showcasing stylized illustrations that likely depict children's stories. Below the images, the exhibition dates are announced: October 25, 2024 – February 7, 2025. Further information indicates that the exhibition will take place at the Ohringer Gallery, located in the Dyer Arts Center, 52 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623. The gallery hours are Monday through Friday, from 10 AM to 4 PM. At the bottom of the graphic, the words "RIT Dyer Arts Center" are prominently featured in a stylized font, accompanied by the smaller text "National Technical Institute for the Deaf," which signifies the institution hosting the exhibition.]

We are thrilled to present an exciting exhibition at the Dyer Arts Center, celebrating the NTID Performing Arts' 50th anniversary! Explore historic highlights of our shows from the 1970s to 2024. An opening event will be held on October 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Dyer Arts Center. The exhibition will feature the rich history of the NTID Drama Club, Experience Experiment Theatre, RIT Dance Company, Sunshine Too, and more. Discover a captivating array of costumes, props, models, lighting, pictures, posters, and other memorabilia. Don’t miss this opportunity to relive and celebrate our remarkable journey in performing arts!

For more information, contact dyerartscenter@rit.edu to learn more about upcoming events.

[ID: Poster with the words Celebrating 50 Years weaved within a graphic that consists of 2 hands colored orange, words Celebrating 50 Years in black, and the two comedy and tragedy masks colored orange and grey. Below are the words NTID Performing Arts Special Events in orange. Below is a photo of performers cheering. Below that are the words Retrospective Exhibit, October 18, 2024 to May 16, 2025, Dyer Arts Center.]

RIT/NTID’s Dyer Arts Center invites you to view The Mechanical Smile, an exhibition featuring the work of artist Kevin Araujo.

Araujo’s work explores the complexities of human emotions, technological integration, and the continuous evolution of our interactions. In his work, “the mask emerges as a profound symbol of happiness, embodying the beauty found in real life. The smile, a fleeting yet fundamental expression, is a universal method of communication, reflecting the essence of human connection.”

Araujo studied Mechatronics Engineering Technology at California University of Pennsylvania. During his studies, he began to explore the art world and developed a deep appreciation for philosophical perspectives. He works as a robotic integration specialist for artificial general intelligence at Neuraville in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He spends a lot of time working with robots, building genomes for AGI, and writing scripts.

The exhibition is on display from June 21 to October 20, 2024, in the Ohringer Gallery on Dyer’s second floor.

For more information, contact dyerartscenter@rit.edu or visit rit.edu/ntid/dyerarts-center to learn more about upcoming events.

[ID: Flyer with a smiling black egg-shaped object that has purple and blue eyes, above text "You bringing back all these memories of pain and regret" at the top left. Black banner at the top right with white text: The Mechanical Smile. Aforementioned text in orange and black text colors. Series of three photos: 1) a person with long black hair wearing a yellow shirt with head bent downward, 2) an outstretched hand, and 3) two closed hands facing upward. RIT/NTID Dyer Arts Center logo in orange banner with white text at the bottom.]

RIT/NTID’s Dyer Arts Center will host a closing reception and curator’s presentation for the exhibition “Black Deaf Art Period” on Friday, September 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Dyer Arts Center in Lyndon Baines Johnson Hall on the RIT campus.

Curator Earl Terry will present about the exhibition, which demonstrates the vulnerability of each Black Deaf person’s lived experiences and storytelling through painting, sculpting, clay-molding, written words and more. The exhibition celebrates the long-overdue visibility and recognition of Black Deaf people’s storytelling of trials and tribulations in their journey to expose their art to the world.

Terry’s curatorial work has featured all artists of color in the Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard-of-Hearing, Late-Deafened, and mainstream communities. He has worked as an art curator with NTID’s Dyer Arts Center for nine years.

The exhibition, which runs through Friday, September 20, is on display in the Williams Gallery on Dyer’s first floor. Come and explore the works from 14 Black artists that emphasize there are no limits to their storytelling.

Admission is free and open to the public. Registration is not required to attend the reception.

For more information, contact dyerartscenter@rit.edu or visit rit.edu/ntid/dyerarts-center to learn more about upcoming events.

[ID: Black banner at the left for the Black Deaf Art Period exhibit and a work of art. Contact dyerartscenter@rit.edu for information or visit rit.edu/ntid/dyerarts-center to learn more about upcoming events. At the right: Join us for the closing reception and curator's presentation, Black Deaf Art Period, Friday, September 20, 2024 1-3 pm. ET in the Dyer arts Center - LBJ Hall. Curator Earl Terry will present about the exhibition, which demonstrates the vulnerability of each Black Deaf person’s lived experiences and storytelling through painting, sculpting, clay-molding, written words and more. A line above text: No registration is required to attend the reception. Admission is free and open to the public. The RIT/NTID Dyer Arts Center logo is in an orange banner in white text at the bottom.]

Remembering the Mosaic Work of Melissa Skyer

This exhibition, which reveals the diverse realms of Skyer’s life, a life that mirrored the wetlands she both explored and safeguarded, serves as an homage to the artist and as a guiding force, encouraging us to probe the in-between spaces and moments, where life thrives in its full complexity and beauty. The exhibit is on display March 1 to May 17, 2024, in the Ohringer Gallery on Dyer’s second floor.

Skyer was an RIT/NTID alum and the daughter of retired NTID staff member Solange “Sally” Skyer, who worked as an academic advisor for NTID’s Business Studies students.

[ID: A beige background of a poster with a mosaic shell image in the center. It’s made with blue, white, brown, and pink tiles. Above the mosaic is the title of the exhibit, “Brilliance.” Below the mosaic, text reads: remembering the mosaic work of Melissa Skyer.]

Dyer Arts Center at Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf will showcase Rubbena Aurangzeb-Tariq’s exhibition “Matchlight: Illuminating Deaf Identity, Mental Health and the Therapeutic Process of Art,” which opens January 19 and runs through May 17, 2024, in the Dyer Arts Center’s William Gallery in LBJ Hall on the RIT campus.

Aurangzeb-Tariq is a London-based artist and art therapist whose body of work interweaves her artistic practice with her therapeutic approach, exploring the intersections of deaf identity, immigration, and womanhood. Her artwork serves as a reflection of her personal experience, challenging societal norms and conceptions while offering a unique lens through which to view the complexities of deafness and mental health.

[ID: Poster of a square oil painting with a scarlet red background containing a pattern of text arranged in a non-linear manner. It includes words and phrases like "EXPRESS THE,” "OF WORD," "TRANSLATING THE DEAF-SELF”, and “BSL BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE.”  On the bottom right hand corner of the painting is a self portrait of the artist covering her face. It is rendered in blue. Overlaying the poster at the top are words in white: MATCHLIGHT: Illuminating Deaf Identity, Mental Health and the Healing Process of Art. January 19 - May 17 2024. Across the bottom of the poster is a photo of the artist a young woman with dark hair and dark shirt holding out a cube. To the right of that is a red background the words in black: Matchlight Events at Dyer: 01.19.2024 4PM-6PM, Artist Talk and Opening Reception: 01.20.2024 11AM-4PM, Art Therapy Workshop for Professionals: 01.22.2024 TBD, Creativity: My Therapy.]

Artist Laurie Shapiro will make her Rochester debut with “You Don’t Need to Hear to Listen,” a poignant exploration of her personal journey as a hard-of-hearing individual and how it has influenced her artistic expression. The exhibition is a captivating and introspective experience that encourages visitors to contemplate the profound connection between art, life, and the human experience. It is featured as part of Dyer Arts Center’s “Anthropology of Motherhood: Intersections with Disabilities” curation.

The heart of the exhibition features a 20-foot, hand-painted vinyl tunnel installation, “We Are All Connected to Each Other Through Nature.” Resembling stained glass, the installation invites viewers to interact with and find inspiration from various angles within the gallery space. In addition, Shapiro’s printed floral drawings guide visitors to the upstairs meditation room where they can immerse themselves in an atmosphere that encourages reflection and unity.

[ID: Art exhibit with colorful floral coverings on the walls, floor, and ceiling of an upper level room.]