Matt Daigle, featured artist at Sign Fest 2024; VV Underground to also perform
American illustrator Matt Daigle: That Deaf Guy is the featured artist for the Eighth Annual Sign Fest, Feb. 28, 29, and March 1. In addition to Daigle, VV Underground will perform with visual vernacular.
Daigle will have two events open to the general public. The first, “Fear, Funny, None — A Journey of Art, Humor, and Identity,” will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 28, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Walter H. Nolte Gateway Center, Room 225. Born deaf and raised in a hearing family, Matt will speak of his journey as an artist who is both deaf and blind,” said Gail Schenfisch, ASL instructor at Casper College. According to Schenfisch, Daigle went through a mainstream education, winding up with a B.A., cum laude, in advertising design from Northern State University. “Cartoons are only a portion of Matt’s artistic endeavors. He also works as an illustrator of children’s books and is a graphic designer,” noted Schenfisch.
On Friday, March 1, “That Deaf Guy — Make and Take Workshop” with Matt Daigle will take place from 8 a.m. to noon in the Dick and Marialyce Tobin Visual Arts Center, Room 104. Daigle will lead participants through several cartooning techniques as they create their own art. Space is limited, and pre-registration by Monday, Feb. 20, is required by emailing Schenfisch at gschenfisch@caspercollege.edu. Thanks to a generous grant from the Board of Cooperative Educational Services — BOCES, all of the workshop materials are provided free of charge.
In addition, entertainment will be provided Friday night beginning at 6:30 p.m. with “Visual Vernacular in Wyoming” with VV Underground. VV Underground consists of three nationally recognized deaf educators/performers: Justin Perez, Joel Ortiz, and Lisa McBee. The dynamic trio “ … will perform with visual vernacular, which is a unique physical theater technique, with elements of poetry and mime, primarily performed by deaf artists,” Schenfisch said. The performance will take place in the Wheeler Concert Hall in the Music Building.
Sign Fest 2024 features programming for over 200 students enrolled in ASL classes at Casper College, Kelly Walsh High School, Natrona County High School, and Dean Morgan Middle School. Students participate in workshops led by local Casper deaf community members. “Students come to this event with all different levels of experience in the language. Some have been studying for three weeks and some for four semesters,” noted Schenfisch. “Through signing activities, games, or formal presentations, students are engaged in language learning from deaf professionals,” she added.
All events are free and open to the public and each will have an interpreter for hearing guests. The Casper College Foundation, the Board of Cooperative Educational Services, the Natrona County Recreation Joint Powers Board, Casper College Activities, and Casper College sponsor Sign Fest.
The Nolte Gateway Center, Tobin Visual Arts Center, and Music Building are on the Casper College Campus.