Two new exhibits designed to deepen visitors’ understanding of the Deaf experience are on display through Sept. 19 in the Joseph F. and Helen C. Dyer Arts Center at Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf.
“Background Noise: Reframing Perception” is a deeply personal and confrontational exhibition by Deaf and queer artist Justin Dougan-LeBlanc. In this expanded iteration of the critically acclaimed “Background Noise,” Dougan-LeBlanc draws viewers into a multisensory landscape where sound, silence, identity, and memory collide.
For Dougan-LeBlanc, who was born Deaf, memories are not heard, but are seen, felt, and understood through a distinct sensory language. The exhibit traces the artist’s journey from internal reckonings to external perceptions, from isolation to reclamation. Created specifically for the Dyer Arts Center, new works deepen the exhibition’s exploration of Deaf culture and queer identity.
Through sculptural artifacts, textiles, fashion, and video installations, Dougan-LeBlanc delves into the ways the world has perceived him, but instead of internalizing those projections, he turns them outward, transforming pain into power.
“Background Noise: Reframing Perception” invites viewers to rethink the framework through which we understand difference, and to come away from their experience with a shift in perception.
The second exhibit, “A Fearless Trailblazer: Dr. Robert F. Panara,” celebrates the life and revolutionary impact on Deaf education by the first Deaf faculty member at RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf, and a co-founder of the National Theatre of the Deaf.
A groundbreaking figure in Deaf education and an inspirational leader in the Deaf community, Panara is remembered for the lasting connections he fostered within the Deaf community and for his message of inclusivity and representation in education and the arts.
A dedicated educator, Panara served as chairperson of NTID’s English department and founded the NTID Drama Club, enriching the cultural experience for students. His courses encompassed Deaf literature, film, theater, and biographies, promoting a deeper understanding of Deaf culture and its contributions to society.
In recognition of his remarkable achievements, the NTID theater was named in his honor upon his retirement, serving as a testament to his legacy and influence in the performing arts.
Both exhibits are on display until Sept. 19, 2025, with a closing reception from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The Dyer Arts Center is located on the first floor of Lyndon Baines Johnson Hall, the home of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf on the RIT campus, 52 Lomb Memorial Dr., Rochester, N.Y. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment. For more information, contact dyerartscenter@rit.edu.
About RIT/NTID
Established by the U.S. Congress in 1965, the National Technical Institute for the Deaf is the first and largest technological college in the world for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. NTID offers associate degree programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing students and provides support and access services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students who study in the other eight colleges of RIT. NTID also offers a certificate in healthcare interpretation, bachelor’s degree programs in sign language interpreting, and community development and inclusive leadership, and master’s degrees in healthcare interpretation and secondary education for individuals interested in teaching deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Deaf and hard-of-hearing students come from all over the United States and around the world to take advantage of the opportunities available to them at RIT/NTID. Go to www.rit.edu/ntid
