Sign Fest

Sign Fest is an annual event that gathers over 230 ASL students from Casper College and Natrona County and exposes these hearing students to literary, grammatical and cultural aspects of American Sign Language through hands-up activities and presentations. This year the speakers, presenters, interpreters, and deaf artists all arrived in Casper just in time to hear of snow and blizzard conditions pending. As a true testament to our post-COVID resolve and collaboration, Sign Fest 2023 came off with over 3 feet of snow and a few “modifications”.

Through some creative thinking Jennifer Tandoc presented her artist talk, Timeless Black Flame, through a Zoom broadcast from around a dining room table. There were over 48 participants who joined this “live” session. Thursday’s in person events included workshops on the history of magic, deaf illustration art, and Russian deaf culture. Instead of all 230 students these events were held in a modified format for the ASL students who could make it on campus. Friday’s artist make and take workshop and Matthew “Magic” Morgan’s evening magic show, “Illusions into a Deaf World '' were open to the public and over 98 attendees showed up.

A big thank you to this year’s guest presenters Matthew Morgan, Liliana Morgan and Jennifer Tandoc who were able to think on the fly and through their dedication to this event, all were willing to record their workshops even after they presented the first time to a live audience. These recordings of Sign Fest have been distributed to the ASL instructors at Kelly Walsh, Natrona County and Dean Morgan so all ASL students in Natrona County can participate in these Sign Fest educational opportunities.

Schedule

Wednesday, February 22, 2023,

Jennifer Tandoc -Artist

Timeless Black Flame

6:30-7:30 p.m. MST

Gateway Building Room 225

Join us for an evening with Jennifer Tandoc, Sign Fest’s featured artist for 2023. Jennifer was born in Manila, Philippines and grew up in Los Angeles, California since 1978. She graduated from California School For the Deaf in Riverside and went to National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, New York, where she obtained her Associate Degree in Art and Computer Design in 2002.will share her art and passion as an abstract illustrator in her presentation, Tireless Black Flame. She will talk about how deaf culture is embedded in all of her work.

This event is FREE to the public through generous support from the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). A sign language interpreter will be provided for our hearing guests.

Friday February 24, 2023

Jennifer Tandoc – Artist

Make and Take – Zentangle Abstract Illustrations

8 a.m. to 12 p.m. MST

Visual Arts Center

Jennifer Tandoc, an abstract illustrator, shares her talent and passion as she encourages participants to explore their own journey into the art of Zentangle design. This Make and Take workshop is FREE to the public through generous support from the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). All materials and supplies will be provided free of charge. Space is limited so please RSVP to gschenfisch@caspercollege.edu by February 20, 2023.

Friday, February 24, 2023

Matthew ‘Magic’ Morgan

“Illusion into the Deaf World”

Wheeler Auditorium – Music Building

6:30 p.m MST

Prepare for eye-popping illusions, stunts with live animals, and seemingly impossible tricks in an unusual and incredible display of magic from deaf entertainers, Magic Morgan and Liliana. Come and be amazed as this husband and wife act combines magic, miming, and comedy while communicating in the universal language of fun!

An American Sign Language interpreter will be provided for our hearing guests.

These public Sign Fest events are free and open to the public made possible through support from the Casper College Foundation Board, the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and the CC ASL Club.

For more information about these Sign Fest events or the American Sign Language Studies degree at Casper College please contact Gail Schenfisch at gschenfisch@caspercollege.edu.

Learning a new language affords students the opportunity to know there is more in the world than what they see in their own backyard. Language acquisition helps students to become global citizens and be more compassionate toward their fellow human beings.