New mural addresses deaf and hard-of-hearing children
- Natalie Pollock
- Aug 1
- 6 min read
Written by Natalie K. Pollock
The Town of West Hartford has been beautified by at least 10 and maybe more large murals, enlivening walls of public and private buildings and oftentimes carrying a message or underscoring exceptional individuals. Four public schools and the Noah Webster Public Library are among the town-owned buildings with murals, and the newest addition is a lively Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Community Mural. The wall faces Blue Back Square on the back of the library’s main level, and it was celebrated at an unveiling on June 15.
The newest mural was created and realized by local area artist Michael Rice, with assistance from his close friend Brian Wentworth. Two years ago, Rice painted a mural at the Bugbee Elementary School, next to the American School for the Deaf.
More recently Luke Nowakowski-McDonald, a teacher for 80 deaf and hard-of-hearing students in West Hartford Public Schools, as well as the deaf community’s hub at the Charter Oak International Academy, proposed a mural that his students could relate to.
“I said, ‘I would like to do something with the schools. My children are not highlighted by the schools, and they have a variety of needs and hearing loss. Why not do something on a wall?’ I brought this idea to the team,” said Nowakowski.
He is fluent in sign language and technology to enhance hearing, and he makes sure that his students have access to all the aspects of education of that other students do.
The idea was applauded and the town became involved. It was also decided to highlight the role of Laurent Clerc, a deaf professor from France who brought sign language to the U.S. and founded the first school for the deaf known as the American School for the Deaf. Nowakowski met with Laurent Clerc Holt, the professor’s great grandchild, four times, which led to Clerc Holt contributing to a small part to the final artwork.
“We reached out to the whole community and asked, ‘how do you access your language?’ We reminded them that language is beautiful and that we should make sure everyone is included (in being able to use it),” he said.
Last November the mural team held a promotional event at Blue Back Square to announce the project to the general community, which attracted a large contingent of deaf and blind people who asked a lot of questions. The project’s visibility led to support from the CT Association of Deaf.
“With help from Renee McCue from town government, we were able to get a one-to-one matching grant from Sustainable CT of $6,000. It’s a nonprofit organization that supports the bettering of Connecticut communities,” said Megan Allen, a parent of seven-year-old deaf son Soren, who attends Charter Oak School. She serves as project manager for the mural effort.
After a year of looking for a wall that a private owner could offer, the West Hartford library expressed interest.
“Carol Waxman at the library met with us and suggested a wall above the stairs (at Blue Back) in the back of the library,” said Nowakowski.
The mural’s artist felt it was perfect.
“The wall is set back, and it blends in (with the Square). When everyone congregates there, they will be near the mural. Then we got going quickly. Renee got us town approval to use the library’s back wall. Next, we focused on funding and Megan found the grant. We held an event at Blue Back and got the word out. One hundred people attended and donations started coming in. A blind and deaf man asked, how would he be able to enjoy the mural. So, the idea for a tactile piece came up,” said Rice.
He began sketching the design in late winter, with the final design being ready by March/April. Painting began on May 25.
Rice collaborated with Christine Ferreira, art teacher at the American School for the Deaf, to create a scene for the design which shows a young boy using a walker and FM radio-like system. In this way Ferreira was able to highlight her own personal connection to the mural and her artistic style.
This fall, a second version of the mural will be converted to a tactile design “so not sighted visitors can enjoy it by touch. It will invite them to experience stories and perspectives from Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing residents,” said Renee McCue, public relations specialist for the Town of West Hartford.
She explained that “most murals are community driven. If they are on town buildings, then the town will help. Each building on private property involves the owner but there is no permitting process to go through.”
The first mural in town was painted in 2007 in Blue Back Square, known as the alphabet mural.
“Maybe that one inspired this movement. Public art is important to West Hartford, such as the sculpture on the town hall’s front lawn. Luke’s vision is behind the deaf mural. He said when children look up at it and say, ‘I can connect with that,’ then we have done something good for them,” said McCue.
According to Allen, Hartford-based and Emmy nominated cinematographer Enrique Lebron with Retrospective Films will be filming this mural and some of the deaf children. Lebron filmed Rice’s huge mural of a child catching a firefly in a jar that can be seen above Interstate 84 in downtown Hartford. The film won an Emmy for the artist and the photographer.
Rice was educated at the Art Institute of Colorado, a former trade art school where he majored in graphic design, but he learned mural design by doing. He worked in New York’s corporate world until age 35 but felt unfulfilled. He knew people in the mural world who suggested that he move to Hartford, so the Baltimore native made a career change.
His dad had worked with forklifts and Rice had experience on them painting houses when he was young, which served him well in working on murals. He was also athletic.
“This project has been a labor of love. Working 12 to 14 hours a day can be brutal work, but I want to help the community. When I can dive in and capture the soul of the piece, that’s when I really get excited. The design comes from my intention to listen and try to capture the essence. With this mural the passion of the people is so pure that it made the investment of my time worth it.”
“Megan helped a lot with ending lots of (lengthy) idea discussions and keeping to a deadline. She was our project manager,” said Rice.
Although she describes herself as “just a parent,” Allen had an important role to play in getting the project started and keeping it on track. She knows some sign language and the uses of applications for the hard of hearing. She also keeps in touch with other mothers of deaf children via Zoom. Her doctorate in nursing and the discipline involved has come in handy on this project.
“I wanted my son to feel it (the mural) in some way. Mike let him come up on the roof. He made Soren feel very special. That’s all I came for. All our (hearing impaired) kids love him. He will never be rid of us. He even got a sign name from them. That’s a big deal,” said Allen. WHL
Current wall murals in West Hartford:
· Elizabeth Park roses, at Corbins Corner next to the Tavern in the Square restaurant (by Ben Keller)
· Welcome to West Hartford, in West Hartford Center off Farmington Avenue (by Corey Pane)
· Martin Luther King, on the Noah Webster Public Library wall leading down the stairs (by Corey Pane) in Blue Back Square, on the Dinah Road garage
· Bob Ross mural, on the wall of Jerry’s Artarama at 1109 New Britain Avenue (artist Marlie Dyer)
· The Camelot residential tower, at 900 Farmington Avenue (by art professor Vladimir Shpitalnik and art students)