"We Belong" is a public art installation created by Orlosky Studio for the Washington School for the Deaf (WSD) in Vancouver, Washington, which highlights the lived experiences of deaf students. The project was commissioned by the Washington State Arts Commission in partnership with the Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth.
This project is a vivid collaboration between artists and the Washington School for the Deaf, honoring the beauty of ASL and the resilience of the Deaf community. Rooted in listening and co-creation, it transformed student-signed messages—You are important, We can do anything, and Deaf Pride—into three glass sculptures that embody empowerment, connection, and cultural pride. Beginning with a school-based photo studio, students signed 128 unique messages while wearing custom light gloves that traced their movements in color. A student ambassador group and project committee then selected three messages that reflect key stages of school life, creating a narrative that welcomes visitors as they move through the building.
Realized with master glassblower Ian Gilula at Elements Glass, more than 36 hand-blown components were shaped through rigorous craft and installed with precision. The sculptures invite multi-angle viewing to echo ASL’s four-dimensional nature—movement, form, time, and space. Transparent colors overlap to reveal new hues, mirroring the layered meanings of sign language and the shared stories of the community.
More than artworks, these pieces are touchstones: students can see themselves reflected, valued, and celebrated. They mark the transformative power of a deaf-centered environment and stand as a lasting legacy of identity, belonging, and Deaf pride.
Click here to check out the project on CODAworx.
