Artstation’s latest exhibition, Vibrations of a Colony, curated by Abbie Twiss features the work of six Deaf visual artists.

This group of artists trace the analogies between what is currently happening to deaf communities worldwide and events that are jeopardising the survival of bee colonies.

“Reflecting on issues impacting on deaf communities, these artists observe how positive changes in philosophy and scientific advances for hearing loss can have a negative impact on deaf cultural ethnicity,“ says curator and artist Abbie Twiss.

Exhibiting artist and Deaf art therapist Rachel Coppage’s sculpture, The Mausoleum Hive, is a metaphor for threats to the sociolinguistic Deaf identity by current hearing technology, such as the cochlear implant.

The declines of the bee colonies by Colony Collapse Disorder and of the Deaf community by modern technological advances in parallel dimensions are captured in "The Mausoleum Hive" that houses images in drawers as an allegory of 'death' threats to the sociolinguistic Deaf identity.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Deaf Arts Network NZ (DANnz) is holding a seminar

Wednesday 4 April. The seminar focuses on developing opportunities for Deaf people as both creative artists and an audience within the arts. Everyone with a passion in Deaf arts is welcome. For more information or to register, email deafartsnetworknz@gmail.com.

‘Vibrations of a Colony’ is on display until Saturday, 21 April.

Curator: Abbie Twiss

Artists: Lorraine Butler, Ryan Cassidy, Rachel Coppage, Celia King, Abbie Twiss and Victoria Walters.

Exhibition dates: 4 to 21 April 2012

Opening: Tuesday 3 April 2012, 5-7pm

Gallery hours: 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday | 10am to 4pm Saturday

Deaf Arts Seminar: Wednesday 4 April, 9.30am -12.30pm

Seminar email: deafartsnetworknz@gmail.com