SU Zoom Surdist Ancestors Series
Since knowledge is power and we face a time where books are being banned, important underrepresented people are being erased, DEIA is attacked, and worse, Surdists United will be hosting a monthly zoom session highlighting the life and works of Deaf Creatives who are no longer with us.
Celebrating Guy Wonder: Hands-On Wire Sculpting Workshop
Led by Bob Rourke
Tuesday May 20, 2025 from 7-9 pm EST
DESCRIPTION:
This session will be divided into two parts. The first segment will pay tribute to Guy Wonder, an acclaimed artist, De’VIA founder, and Surdist ancestor. It will showcase his remarkable 3-D creations, with a special focus on his innovative wire artworks. The second segment will feature a hands-on activity for beginners, guiding participants step by step through the process of crafting a wire sculpture and creating a wire portrait.
PARTICIPANTS CAP: 10
REGISTRATION: (Deadline is May 10, 2025. Zoom link will be sent after May 10th)
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/celebrating-guy-wonder-tribute-and-hands-on-sculpture-workshop
Registration fee of $20 includes materials which will be mailed to participants in advance.
Zoom session includes a powerpoint presentation and a hands-on wire making art activity led by Bob Rourke
BIO:
Bob Rourke, who doesn’t have a name sign and just goes by the fingerspelling of
B-O-B-R, was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He attended the Michigan School for the Deaf and went to Gallaudet University, where he got a degree in Computer Science. Bob has been an IT Specialist since 1985 and has worked full time professionally in this field since that time. He recently became interested in creating De’VIA works after being inspired by his sister-in-law, Nancy Rourke and mosaic artworks by his wonderful hearing spouse, Paul. As a Deaf Gay emerging artist and a personal friend, Bob eagerly took up the challenge of doing the art for Guy Wonder’s story in the Surdists United De’VIA Ancestor’s children book. Bob is honored to present about this eclectic, multitalented master, Guy Wonder.
Photo of materials you will need – sculpting and armature wire and photo of Guy will be mailed to you. Other materials (Materials you should use from home – tape, black marker, plier, wire cutters, wood board or any surface to tape photo to)
Celebrating Betty G. Miller: Grow ASL Flowers with Us!
Led by Laurie Rose Monahan
Tuesday June 17, 2025 from 6-8 pm EST
DESCRIPTION: This zoom session will be divided into two parts. The first segment will pay tribute to Betty G. Miller, an acclaimed artist, mother of De’VIA, and Surdist ancestor. It will showcase her remarkable paintings, mixed media and neon artworks.
The second segment will feature a hands-on activity for beginners, guiding participants step by step through the process of copying, drawing, and scratching off an artwork inspired by Betty G. Miller’s style.
PARTICIPANTS CAP: 10
REGISTRATION: (Deadline is June 4, 2025. Zoom link will be sent after June 4th)
Register at: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/celebrating-betty-g-miller-grow-asl-flowers-with-us-led-by-laurie-rose-monahan
Registration fee of $20 includes materials which will be mailed to participants in advance. Supply kit mailed to you includes: small containers with black acrylic paint, sponge brushes, oil pastels, cardstock, wooden sticks, red pen, illustrations, plastic spoon.
Materials you will need from home: a few drops of dish soap, blow dyer, blue tape
Zoom session includes a powerpoint presentation and a hands-on art activity led by Laurie Rose Monahan.
BIO:
Laurie was born and raised in NJ. She attended mainstream schools then went to NTID/RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) from 1987 to 1990. She worked as a graphic designer for about 15 years for 3 different companies. She went back to RIT in 2010 and got a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts.
Laurie has trained as a Deaf Artist in Residence (DAIR) with Nancy Rourke as her mentor. She is also on the board for Surdists United. In 2016, Laurie established Queer De’VIA in Facebook for queer artists to share their artwork.
Also, Laurie illustrated a children’s story about Betty G. Miller in the De’VIA Ancestors book. After 20 years of living in Rochester, NY, she relocated to NJ as a freelance visual artist and caretaker for her mother.
Materials will be mailed to registrants – cardstock, images, red pen, oil pastels.
Advance Your ASL: A Class on Clayton Valli
Led by Eric Epstein
Thursday July 17, 2025 from 6-8 pm EST
DESCRIPTION:
People who want to improve their creative signing skills need to study ASL masters like Clayton Valli. In this session, we will learn about advanced techniques that Clayton Valli uses in his ASL poetry. Then, for the second hour, you will apply Clayton Valli’s ASL poetry techniques through hands-on activities that will enrich your ASL skills, classifier use, song signing & translation works.
PARTICIPATION CAP: No limit
REGISTRATION: (Deadline to register is July 10, 2025)
Registration fee of $10 REGISTER HERE:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/celebrating-clayton-valli-advance-your-asl-a-class-on-clayton-valli-led-by-eric-epstein
Zoom session includes a powerpoint presentation and a sign play activity led by Eric Epstein
BIO:
Eric is an ASL poet, consultant & educator whose work has been featured in the Folger Shakespeare Library traveling exhibition and the New York Times article “American Sign Language Reveals Wordplay Beyond Sound”. He is passionate about elevating our understanding of ASL. He has given numerous workshops & presentations to various organizations, nonprofits, and colleges/universities. His groundbreaking research in advanced ASL can be found in the website Signplaying.com.
George W. Veditz, the Man Behind the Film
Led by Karen KC Christie
Wednesday August 13, 2025 from 6-8 pm EST
DESCRIPTION:
Who was George W. Veditz? This zoom includes a powerpoint presentation outlining Veditz’s life and contributions to the Deaf community as well as a craft session creating a special fabric keepsake.
PARTICIPATION CAP: 12 people
REGISTRATION: (Deadline to register is August 1, 2025)
REGISTER HERE: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/george-w-veditz-the-man-behind-the-film-with-karen-kc-christie
Registration fee of $10 includes materials that will be mailed to registrants in advanc
BIO:
KC is a former NTID/RIT professor who taught Deaf Cultural Studies among other
classes. She has published a film on Veditz as well as the book, George W. Veditz:
Who That? (Illustrated by Nancy Rourke). She enjoys researching the lives of Deaf
ancestors and has exhibited fabric artworks.
Tribute to John Clarke and Hands-On Land Acknowledgement
Led by Nancy Rourke
Tuesday September 17, 2025 from 6-8 pm EST
DESCRIPTION: This session will be divided into two parts. The first segment will pay tribute to John Louis Clarke, a Native American Deaf artist ancestor. It will showcase his wood carved pieces and paintings. The second segment will feature a hands-on activity for participants. They will be led step by step through the process of making a land acknowledgement wood craft.
PARTICIPANTS CAP: 12
REGISTRATION: (Deadline is September 3, 2025). Zoom link will be sent after September 3rd.
REGISTER HERE: Click here for Zeffy registration
Registration fee of $20 includes materials which will be mailed to participants in advance.
Zoom session includes a powerpoint presentation and a hands-on wood art activity led by Nancy Rourke
BIO:
Nancy Rourke is a Deaf artist, muralist, activist, and Native American. Her paintings bear witness to the experiences of Deaf people and explore Deaf culture and solidarity. Nancy has exhibited art internationally, including in New York, Poland, France, and the United Kingdom.
Materials you will need: Pencil Sharp scissor One paper clip
masking tape
Other materials will be mailed to you
Tribute to Mary Tillman Smith
Led by Yusuf Yahya
Thursday October 23, 2025 from 6-8 pm EST
DESCRIPTION: This session will be divided into two parts. The first segment will pay tribute to Mary Tillman Smith, a Black Deaf artist ancestor. It will showcase her yard art and share her background. The second segment will feature a hands-on activity for participants. They will be led step by step through the process of making an artwork inspired by Mary Tillman Smith’s style.
PARTICIPANTS CAP: 12
REGISTRATION: (Deadline is October 8, 2025). Zoom link will be sent after October 23rd.
REGISTER LINK: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/tribute-to-mary-tillman-smith
Registration fee of $20 includes materials which will be mailed to participants in advance.
Zoom session includes a powerpoint presentation and a hands-on wood art activity led by Yusuf Yahya
BIO:
Yusuf Yahya was born in Washington, D.C. He is the only Deaf child in his Hearing family. Yusuf graduated in 1992 from the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD) which is located on Gallaudet University Campus. Yusuf is a dancer and self-taught visual artist. He currently dances with Guardian Baltimore, which passes on African American history and culture through dance. As an artist, he works largely with watercolor, paints (oil and acrylic) and collage. He is inspired by many Deaf artists: Takiyah Harris, David Call, and Nancy Rourke. Many of his pieces examine Black Deaf identity and equality
Tribute to Theophilus d’Estrella
Led by Vicki Campos-Hamilton
Thursday November 20, 2025 from 6-8 pm EST
DESCRIPTION: This session will be divided into two parts. The first segment will pay tribute to Theophilus d’Estrella, a Chicanx Deaf artist ancestor. It will showcase his photography work and background. The second segment will feature a hands-on activity for participants. They will be led step by step through the process of making an artwork inspired by d’Estrella’s life.
PARTICIPANTS CAP: 12
REGISTRATION: (Deadline is November 9, 2025).
Zoom link will be sent after November18, 2025.
REGISTER LINK: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/tribute-to-theophilus-destrella-led-by-vicki-campos-hamilton
Registration fee of $20 includes materials which will be mailed to participants in advance.
Zoom session includes a powerpoint presentation and a hands-on art activity led by Vicki Campos-Hamilton
BIO: Vicki Campos-Hamilton, also known as Vickers, received a BA degree in Deaf Studies with an emphasis on Human Services from California State University, Northridge. After working in human services for the deaf in New York City, she earned an MA degree in Deaf Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. For several years, she taught Deaf students in pre-school, middle school and high school. Vickers is a self-taught artist and a small business owner of Vicki Campos Art on Etsy.
She enjoyed illustrating the fascinating life of Theophilus Hope d’Estrella. She felt a strong kinship with Theophilus as she believes they have three important things in common: Both were born in California; both are Chicanx; and both queer. She asserts that Deaf children everywhere should learn about Theophilus’ life — a crucial piece of Deaf history.