MDVAP Deaf Awareness Month Series 2026
Deaf & Diverse: Celebrating Black, Brown, and Indigenous Deaf Voices
September 2026 | Phoenix • Tempe • Tucson • Virtual
Join MDVAP for a month-long celebration of visual art, storytelling, culture, accessibility, and community featuring Black, Brown, and Indigenous Deaf artists across Arizona.
View the Full September Schedule
Deaf & Diverse: Celebrating Black, Brown, and Indigenous Deaf Voices
September 2026 | Phoenix • Tempe • Tucson • Virtual
Join MDVAP for a month-long celebration of visual art, storytelling, culture, accessibility, and community featuring Black, Brown, and Indigenous Deaf artists across Arizona.
View the Full September Schedule
[ID: A vertical black, gold, red, green, and orange MDVAP event flyer for the MDVAP Voices Panel, part of Deaf & Diverse: Celebrating Black, Brown, and Indigenous Deaf Voices. Across the center are three featured artist portraits: Fred Michael Beam, a BlackDeaf visual and performing artist, smiling in a white suit; Parirou Djafari, a Hard of Hearing visual artist, shown in a close-up black-and-white portrait; and Ebony R. Gooden, a Black Deaf multidisciplinary artist, wearing a colorful patterned top with a large natural Afro. Each portrait is framed by a different earth-toned color. Below the portraits, the flyer announces the panel for Wednesday, September 16, 2026, from 5:00–6:30 PM at Phoenix College, Willo Conference Room, 3310 N. 10th Ave, Phoenix, Arizona 85013. The event is described as a community dialogue exploring identity, culture, storytelling, accessibility, and representation. The bottom states that the event is sponsored by the Phoenix College ASL Club and includes mdvap.org. Arizona desert mountains and a saguaro silhouette decorate the bottom of the flyer.]
[ID: A vertical, high-contrast event flyer with a charcoal-black background and gold, white, and dark-brown accents. A narrow gold border runs across the top. “MDVAP” appears in gold at the upper left, with “Deaf Awareness Month 2026” in white at the upper right. Large white and gold text reads, “DeafBlind Arizonans: You’re Invited!”
A horizontal line of alternating gold and brown circles, with a larger white circle in the center, appears above a rounded gold banner reading “Protactile Gallery Tour.” Three boxes display the event details: “Sunday,” “September 13,” and “2:00–3:00 PM.” Below, white text gives the location: Mood Room, 3121 N 3rd Ave, Suite 100, Phoenix, Arizona 85013. Additional text reads, “Experience visual art through a Protactile-centered gallery tour. Connect. Explore. Celebrate.” A black-and-white registration QR code appears on the lower right with the words “Scan to Register.” A gold bar near the bottom reads, “Reserve Your Place: square.link/u/FfNHTwd5.” The footer reads, “Melanated Deaf Visual Arts Project | mdvap.org.”] 
[ID: A vertical MDVAP Deaf Awareness Month 2026 flyer with a black background and gold, white, and red accents. A large distressed red-and-white “CANCELED” stamp runs diagonally across the upper-middle portion of the flyer, clearly indicating that the event will no longer take place.
The flyer originally invites DeafBlind Arizonans to a Protactile Gallery Tour scheduled for Friday, September 25, from 2:00–3:00 PM at the Tucson Deaf Community Center, 1436 N. 11th Ave., Tucson, Arizona 85705. Text describes the event as an opportunity to experience visual art through a Protactile-centered gallery tour. A QR code and registration information appear toward the bottom. The MDVAP name and website are displayed in the footer. The overall design uses MDVAP’s black-and-gold visual style, with the bright red CANCELED stamp prominently communicating the event cancellation.] |
[ID: A horizontal promotional flyer for the Melanated Deaf Visual Arts Project (MDVAP) ASL Art Workshop, designed in black, gold, white, and burnt orange. Paintbrushes and orange paint strokes decorate the upper corners, while an Arizona desert landscape with a large saguaro cactus runs along the bottom.
Large text across the top reads “ASL Art Workshop”, followed by “Deaf & Diverse: Celebrating Black, Brown, and Indigenous Deaf Voices.” The workshop takes place Wednesday, September 9, 2026, from 5:00 PM–7:00 PM at Mood Room, 3121 N. 3rd Ave., Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85013. The flyer states “No Experience Necessary! All materials provided.” The center reads “Create • Connect • Explore Deaf Art” and describes the workshop as a welcoming space where Deaf and diverse artists can express themselves, inspire one another, and build community through art. Admission is $25, with tickets available at the door or online. A large QR code appears beside the admission information with the words “Scan to Purchase Tickets.” The bottom reads, “More Than Art, A More Inclusive Tomorrow.”] 
[ID: A vertical black, gold, and burnt-orange promotional flyer for the Melanated Deaf Visual Arts Project (MDVAP). At the top is the gold MDVAP logo and the words “Melanated Deaf Visual Arts Project,” followed by the large title “ASL Gallery Tour” and “Deaf & Diverse: Celebrating Black, Brown, and Indigenous Deaf Voices.” A photograph in the center shows several colorful framed artworks displayed on white gallery walls.
The event is Sunday, September 6, 2026, from 2:00–3:00 PM at Mood Room, 3121 N. 3rd Ave., Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85013. Admission is $25, with tickets available at the door or online. A large QR code is included with the words “Scan to Purchase Tickets.” Below, the flyer reads, “Experience the MDVAP exhibition through ASL,” and lists featured artists Parirou Djafari, Ebony R. Gooden, and Fred Michael Beam. The bottom includes mdvap.org against an Arizona desert landscape with mountain and saguaro silhouettes.] 
A vertical MDVAP Deaf Awareness Month Series 2026 calendar flyer with a black, gold, white, and dark-red color palette. The top has a gold background with large black text reading “Melanated Deaf Visual Arts Project Deaf Awareness Month Series 2026.” Below is the theme, “Deaf & Diverse: Celebrating Black, Brown, and Indigenous Deaf Voices | September 2026 | Arizona & Virtual.”
The black main section lists September events chronologically, including the MDVAP Exhibition Opening Reception, Introductory ASL Workshop, ASL Gallery Tour, ASL Art Workshop, Deaf Art, Storytelling & Identity, Protactile Gallery Tour and Art Workshop, MDVAP Voices Panel, Tucson Deaf Awareness Week, and the virtual Closing Celebration and Gala. The September 25 MDVAP Tucson: ASL Gallery Tour & Protactile Gallery Tour listing is highlighted with a dark-red background and a large diagonal red-and-white “CANCELED” stamp. Only the September 25 MDVAP event is marked canceled. The September 21–27 Tucson Deaf Awareness Week and September 27 Closing Ceremony remain listed without cancellation marks. Desert-inspired botanical and cactus illustrations decorate the lower portion of the flyer. A QR code appears at the bottom left, with MDVAP website, email, and contact information along the bottom. |
WHAT WE DO
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Exhibitions
Curated visual arts exhibitions featuring Melanated Deaf artists, presented in accessible, Deaf-centered environments. |
Artist Support
Providing opportunities, visibility, and compensation for Deaf artists of color. |
Community Engagement
Public programs, artist talks, and events that center Deaf culture and lived experience. |
Accessible Programming
ASL and Protactile-centered design ensuring meaningful access for DeafBlind and Deaf communities. |
WHY THIS MATTERS
Deaf and Disabled artists of color are often excluded from traditional art spaces.
MDVAP exists to change that.
We center:
MDVAP exists to change that.
We center:
- Access
- Equity
- Cultural pride
- Community leadership
IMPACT
OUR IMPACT
MDVAP is building a sustainable platform for Melanated Deaf artists in Arizona and beyond.
2026 Goals:
MDVAP exists to ensure Melanated Deaf artists are not only seen—but supported, compensated, and centered.
MDVAP is building a sustainable platform for Melanated Deaf artists in Arizona and beyond.
2026 Goals:
- 4 exhibitions
- 20+ artists featured
- Community-based accessible programming
- Partnerships with arts institutions
MDVAP exists to ensure Melanated Deaf artists are not only seen—but supported, compensated, and centered.
[ID]: A poster, "BLACK DEAF ART PERIOD." Under the title was a photo of Earl Terry with his maroon suit. Under the photo, "Curated by Earl Terry," hung on the walls]
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FOUNDER SNAPSHOTI’m Earl Terry, a Deaf, Black Afro-Mexican curator, educator, and advocate.
I created MDVAP to build spaces where DDBDDHHLD artists of color are seen, supported, and centered. This is more than a project—it’s a movement for visibility and justice through art. |
PARTNER/SPONSOR
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PARTNER WITH MDVAP
MDVAP partners with organizations, institutions, and sponsors to bring Deaf-centered exhibitions and programming to life. Support may include:
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