Helene Oppenheimer: ASL Clay
Helene Oppenheimer operates a sculpturing business, ‘ASL in Clay’ in Minnesota. She is creating a documentary of ASL using clay. Although Oppenheimer is hearing, she has become very involved in the Deaf Community.
Oppenheimer explains that “Being a German-Jew is a very important part of who I am. The anti-Semitism in Germany allowed me to experience painful judgement assumptions from people who knew nothing about me. At a young age I knew the pain of being excluded and teased because of the person I was born as, nothing else.
“When coming to California at age 7, my first friend was an African-American blind girl, Sally. When I would take her to the playground, children would throw dirt at us. This experience so confused me. I could not understand why they were doing this. We hadn’t even talked to them. It was our mere presence that frightened them to hate.
Later as an adult after returning from my high school and university studies in Germany, I met my first Deaf friend, China, who helped me learn a bit of his language, and I in turn taught him some German, Hebrew and Yiddish. I had just finished sculpting my first ASL sculpture, ‘Inspiration’. Harold ‘China’ Foster walked into my studio and had such a look of amazement on his face. ‘She is speaking my Language!’ He signed to me.
“Because of the pain I experienced being in a country and not understanding what people were saying, this touched my heart. But China was not an immigrant; he was a native-born Californian! I was outraged. Someone should make art accessible to the Deaf which also reflects Deaf culture.
“That was in 1994. Since then I have sculpted over 40 ASL/Braille sculptures to create the first and only ‘ASL In Clay: A Sculpture Documentary With African-American Deaf Women’ (see website: home.earthlink.net/~aslclay). This one-of-a-kind ASL exhibit welcomes the Deaf and hearing to appreciate Deaf art and culture together.
“It is a direct statement to the hearing community and to all groups who contribute to or represent oppression. We must all do our part to contribute to uplifting everyone. I know it is important that I am not Black but that I sculpt ethnic diversity… it is very important to me. I hope it calls others to take responsibility”.
Why Sculpting?
“The reason I have continued sculpting these past 5 years, is related also to an incident here in Minnesota. The Deaf community was having an art show for Deaf only. Then they heard of my work and had a special meeting because they just never considered a hearing person would be creating Deaf art! They voted to include my sculptures.
“I was humbled at the event because the Deaf viewers were so moved and encouraging… well I haven’t stopped since. We really are all in this together. It just depends on what we do about it. But I do respect that groups of people need to have time to be just within their groups too. There is an important place for both situations.
“I think this is also why my story is being published in DEAF ESPIRIT-because I have a “Deaf Spirit”, just as and my spirit is connected to all people who are misjudged for anything other than who they really are.
Why You Sculpt Jewish Figures
“The Ethiopian Jews or Beth Israel as they call themselves, have been terribly oppressed just like their Deaf American cousins. Many have been air lifted to Israel where they continue to suffer. Hebrew is not their language. They do not celebrate all of the same Jewish Holidays either. So once again a Deaf community is home but not AT HOME!
Specialty Arts (Deaf Hospice)
“I just completed my “ASL/Braille Deaf Hospice Series”. One of the seven sculptures ‘Grief’ is Jewish. Her sign I believe is rooted in Jewish tradition of ‘Kerlyah’, the tearing of the cloth during mourning, to symbolize the tearing of one’s heart when suffering loss. I love that an ASL sign his based in Jewish custom and history! I wonder if there are more such signs. I think the French Monks when developing ASL (being biblically trained), wanted to make Sure others understood the difference between the sign for sad, even very sad, and grief which would be used when mourning a death.
‘Grief’ was created to support Hospice for the Deaf. In New York at Beth Israel (coincidence?) Hospital, there is even a ‘Shabbat elevator’ for Deaf Hospice use. Presently there are only 2 Hospice for the Deaf in the USA, NY and KY. MN is training to be the third.
Involvement In Jewish Deaf Community
“I also create ASL and Braille JUDAICA. Mainly clay plaques for Passover and Chanukah- also a ‘Jew’ and ‘Welcome/Shalom’ ASL plaque. I integrate Hebrew and Yiddish on them.
“One of our local synagogues is reaching out to the Deaf community recently. I am helping to connect them with each other.
“I am an active member of Black Deaf Advocates (BOA) Minnesota Chapter. Just this past potluck, I met two Jewish Deaf people! Also at my last Chanukah party in my home, (for my Deaf and hearing friends) – only one other Jew besides me attended – a Jewish Deaf man!
“I also have been commissioned to involve our Deaf community in creating the first permanent and public ASL cast iron sculpture in Minnesota. There will be Jewish signs in the sculpture. I would love to hear from readers of any signs they think are especially important to include for future sculpture projects. They can digitally e-mail them to me at: [email protected].”
Fluent in Sign Language?
“I have studied ASL in college. There are no local classes in my area and I cannot travel to the big city regularly (because of my physical disability). So I know I will never be fluent in ASL. I am physically disabled because of chronic/acute back pain. Sitting in classrooms and meetings is very painful. Therefore I can watch videos and practice when I do get out. But I mainly practice with my husband who is a former Sign Language Interpreter and presently a Speech and Language Pathologist for the Deaf. (I am bilingual in English and German.)”
Ordering Her Artwork
Oppenheimer does ASL and Braille sculpture commissions and would be honored to do any specific Jewish signs. “You may write directly to me regarding sculpture commissions which run anywhere from $40 to $4000.”
Deaf Ethiopian Jew
1997 (19x 10x 14 inches)
“I have created my own ASL sign for this Deaf Ethiopian-Jewish immigrant in America. The hand shape is the sign for house, except the fingers are signing ‘B’ and ‘I’, for the Hebrew ‘Beth Israel’. Therefore, this is my own sign for the Hebrew words meaning ‘House of Israel’. It is common Deaf practice to create a name sign or a sign for a city. She is wearing traditional clothing from her native Ethiopia. The gold Star of David is the universal sign for the Jews and traditionally adorns the synagogue. Blue and white are the national colors of Israel. I wanted this Deaf Jew to feel protected and safe, thus the signing hands are not hers, but someone much larger, facing and embracing her.’
Dancer
1997 (16x10x12)
This dancer celebrates her culture. Yet she is a symbol of the oppression in Ethiopia of Jews. They are not allowed to own land and struggle for their income as crafts people and artists, which is viewed as one of the lowest forms of profession in Ethiopia. They are referred to as Falasha, meaning outsider, which they find insulting. They wish to be called Beth Israel..
