New Releases by James W Van Manen

Nancy Rourke: Deaf Artist Series is the first book ever published about Nancy Rourke, a Deaf oil painter who works in the De'VIA (Deaf View Image Art) genre. Its pages are filled with vibrant images in Rourke's trademark primary colors, along with descriptions of art and biography. Rourke's affinity for art dates to her childhood, when she started drawing as a means to communicate with her parents. Though she has created art for over forty years, Rourke's present style evolved in 2010 when her artwork began reflecting the Deaf View/Image Art (De'VIA) themes of affirmation, resistance and liberation. In the book, Van Manen not only explains the origins of Rourke's paintings, but also accounts for her remarkable success as an artist in the years since adopting De'VIA themes. Nancy Rourke: Deaf Artist Series is a wonderful educational resource for art enthusiasts, and for aspiring artists, and for people interested in Deaf Culture or De'VIA art. This series brings attention to the artwork and lives of contemporary Deaf visual artists who are important to the Deaf Art Movement and De'VIA (Deaf View / Image Art). These are Deaf artists who place a perspective on their artwork which relates to American Sign Language, Deaf heritage, and Deaf culture. Each book contains biography, art interpretation, and some art description. The availability of this important series offers readers an insight into the world of culturally Deaf people through their artists. Furthermore, the series serves as an useful guide for art historians, curators, and docents in recognizing Deaf Art/De'VIA's contribution to American art.

This book gives you entre into the life and art of an incredible woman who has done much with her life. She has traveled the world. She has met several presidents and prime ministers. She has charmed her way into situations and into places few would imagine possible for anyone. To say that she is a remarkable person is to miss the mark. While barely 20 and an undergraduate, along with a few others, she started the Deaf Art Movement. By 25 her artwork had been published in over 10 books. By 40 she had created an international symbol of sign language interpreting, and had her design work published on over 2000 book covers. By 45, after rededicating her life to studio art, she had completed over 150 pieces and defined a new art genre: Deaf Pop Art. She has taken more photographs of famous people using the ILY sign than most people can name. She found herself in Japan and within days of her arrival was living with a Deaf host family and being interviewed on Japanese TV. She has chutzpah, wit, and style in her 5 foot frame. When I tell you she has been Deaf from birth, I expect some readers will be more impressed. As Silver would say, "Pfft. Get over yourself." Being Deaf is a part of her, like being born Jewish or being born a lesbian. It isn't amazing that she's done what she's done because she's Deaf. She is just amazing. This book is an art biography because it is about her art, but it is also about her life. It reads in chronological format, starting with her birth and leads the reader through various stages in her life and artwork up to the present.