December 28, 2009 23:06:33
August 29, 2014 18:28:47
September 8, 2014 04:38:35
Agnieszka Misiewicz In last days I had million things to do so I didn't follow your FB profile or YouTube channel and I had no idea what is going on. Now I understand what you meant by saying that my emails couldn't be coming at a worse time. I feel a bit awkward that I was insisting so much and pushing you to share your ASL activity when you were under attack and probably you needed some time to digest all this situation and to react somehow. But you know what? I'd do the same now ;) You should continue what you're doing, cause you're really good. Remember when Lilly, TV journalist, asked me before concert why Migaj.eu invited you to Poland? I told her that you're one of the best ASL performers. Not one of the best hearing ASL performers, but one of the best at all - and nothing changed since then ;) I like what you have written on your FB and patron profiles: "I express music through a fusion of sign language, acting, and dance" - this is your forte, your strength. Wrong signs? Well, you will never be as good as Deaf, cause it's first language for them, but interpreting is always subjective - one can agree with the way of interpreting and the other no. Facial expressions don't mach to the body language? Well, you're acting, right? You're using sign language as a tool to create art - both for Deaf and hearing. In last months I'm getting deeper and deeper into Polish Deaf communities, and I'm trying to understand their way of thinking, but I will never call what you're doing cultural appropriation. During my sign language course I've watched great video made by Deaf performer, "Recipe for Polish Sign Language (PJM)". He was making a perfect cake called PJM, adding ingredients like signs, gestures, facial expressions, emotion, energy, but also news, Deaf culture and pride. The dough was better and better, but still something was missing. The most important ingredient was Deaf people, of course, only with this one cake was perfect and tasty. It's obvious, but Deaf were, are and will always be - I have to use this word - oversensitive at this point. But I really want to believe that even if you're not Deaf, or at least CODA, you still can work with sign language. I know that it's not easy when you have so many other things to do, but why don't you try to cooperate with Deaf community in Austin - to invite them to prepare one song with you? Or to consult songs that you are preparing not only with interpreter, but also with some Deaf? If they think that you're signing so badly, why won't they prepare the "proper" version? (But again, what does it mean proper, when there are so many ways of interpretation...) I'm sure that many of them will start to look at your productions in a different way even if you won't change anything but you will underline that some Deaf people were involved. BTW, why your last milestone goal has disappeared? Don't give up! Just take a look at Olek - he was also this bad guy who shouldn't work with sign language, and he's doing it more than 20 years now, as a full-time job. Olek asked me to tell you that if he could help you somehow, we can arrange some video hangout or whatever, just let me know ;)
September 9, 2014 12:00:26 · Reply
Anna Lewicka I didn't know what's wrong till yesterday. So sorry to read all the sad stuff ... I hope You feel the support & friendship from here! Be brave!
September 12, 2014 07:25:39 · Reply
Lesley Reed I am not Deaf but my 4 year old daughter is nonverbal and we use sign language to communicate. I was told she would not be able to communicate verbally until age 14 or 15 so I immediately went back to school to improve my ASL and now teach children and their families to use ASL. My daughter after INTENSIVE therapy is actually speaking, very well and I attribute it to not just her hard work but her desire to sing. I have to say that we love you, she listens and watches you whenever I let her. Recently we started watching your videos in our classes, we watch them to show how much "fun" signing can be. Some of my students are having hearing loss and it is just a way to relax and find something enjoyable about signing instead of the fear many are having about going deaf. Just know that we love you and watch/listen to you frequently.
September 12, 2014 20:16:32 · Reply
