The Art of Hearing

Reported By: Kate Mack

Photos Courtesy of Kaitlyn Johnson

Art is a universal language and has been the means of communicating experiences that are unable to be put into words. Claire Russell, a senior at George Fox University (GFU), recently released her newest showcase titled, “Sound Stories: Experiences with Hearing Loss.” The gallery illustrates the experiences of Russell and others who have struggled with hearing loss. 

During the summer of 2023, Russell, with the help of the Richter Scholars Program, was able to create a gallery that illuminated the lives of those who struggle with hearing loss. Throughout her time at GFU, Russell dreamed of completing a gallery like this, but she did not believe it was possible until after graduation. Together with the program, and her mentor, Adam Long, Russell was able to accomplish her dream and allow people to walk in the shoes of people who struggle with hearing loss. 

As one of the few art students in the Richters Scholar Program, Russell was paving the way for other art students, but that came with its own struggles. Due to the lack of art students in the program, Russell had no reference from past students on what would be accepted as a proposal; she was in uncharted territory. However, Russell was able to use this chance as an opportunity to come up with something new and different. 

Russell’s inspiration for the project stemmed from her own experience with hearing loss: “I felt like I was trying to say, ‘Please understand what it’s like.’” Russell used her art to portray a story she felt that she could not put into words. Many people struggle with hearing loss and each experience is different. To incorporate this diversity in her work, Russell interviewed and met with people who also experienced hearing loss, and she pieced together a picture that illustrated each of their experiences. “I wanted people to walk through and be able to empathize and communicate and understand,” she said. 

Russell is regularly completing commissions for clients and working on her craft, so she is no stranger to the art world. But “Sound Stories: Experiences with Hearing Loss” was different because it was a collective effort. 

Russell had the weight of other’s experiences and unspoken stories on her shoulders, and it was her responsibility to share them. By using multiple mediums, Russell was able to not just share their stories, but also illustrate their lives in a truly moving way.