Limitless Expressions (LX) News

Written By Deaf Spotlight

Urban Jazz Dance Company, Second LX Weekend, May 2 through May 4, 2025

Urban Jazz Dance Company (UJDC) performed “Listening is Healing in Respect: A Call for Deaf Access to Mental Health Care for the Deaf Community” at LX Festival 2025. Dancers included Antoine Hunter, Kelly Garrett, Noah James III, Paunika Jones, Jet Nir, Danielle Silk and Zahna Simon. Director Antoine Hunter shared creating the production, “has been a very dark experience, as we’ve [UJDC] interviewed people going through hospice care.” 

UJDC performance program included three parts: First part “Only If You Knew”, second part was an excerpt from “Scream My Language”, and the third part was “Wistful Nostalgia”. Director Hunter stressed “These dances are created with love and respect for all those who have faced challenges within mental health and hospital settings”.  

To keep up with Urban Jazz Dance Company visit their website and on Facebook @UrbanJazzDance and Instagram @UrbanJazzDanceCompany.

Art Night Out and Art Market, LX First Weekend, April 25 through April 27, 2025

We had a great start to LX with Art Night Out with local artists and our very own mural! On Friday, April 25 artist Aistė Rye started our Deaf Spotlight mural, which attendees joined in for the live painting. There were different arts and crafts to get creative with, including painting and beadwork. Three local bakers Kam, Marilyn and Rachel, generously donated delicious treats!   
 
On Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27, we hosted the Art Market with eight local artists: Loni Friedmann, AJ Granda, Sami Liddick, Mia Milling, Sam Sanders, Ann Silver, Jaron Rehkop, and Jessie Zhang.

Loni Friedmann, @Loni.Friedmann on Instagram, brought texture mixed media canvas works, drawings, sculpture canvas and stickers. For the summer, they are focusing on growing their art business. View Loni’s store for more.

AJ Granda, @BlindBlueWorld on Instagram, offerings included crafted duffel bags, baby clothing, and pouch bags. 

Sami Liddick, @Sami.xedMedia on Instagram, had repurposed and upcycled arts, decor walls, magnets and homemade earrings. Sami’s story has stickers and prints available online. 

Mia Milling, @ThatDeafZinester on Instagram, joined us with zines, stickers, prints and soft journals. For zines and stickers visit Mia’s Ko-Fi shop.  

Sam Sanders joined us with original drawings and paintings.

Ann Silver had her autobiography book titled “Ann Silver: Deaf Artist Series” and Deaf Art prints.

Jaron Rehkop, @Jar.DIY on Instagram, had velvet-textured hand-shaped ILY pillow signs and ILY custom items as well as disco hanging.  

Jessie Zhang, @BeanPastes on Instagram, brought stickers, art prints, risography prints and sketch commissions.


Deaf Spotlight Celebrates Deaf Arts at 2nd Limitless Expressions (LX)

ID: A bricked wall in blue tone with yellow neon text: “Deaf Spotlight presents LIMITLESS EXPRESSIONS, a month showcase of Deaf Arts, April 25 - May 18, 2025”. The ‘x’ in Expressions is teal. 

Seattle, WA - April 14, 2025—Beginning April 25 through May 18 Deaf Spotlight will host the LIMITLESS EXPRESSIONS (LX), a month-long celebration of Deaf Arts, through in-person visual and performing arts weekend events. LX will take place at 12th Ave Arts in Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA 98122. “We are thrilled to welcome Deaf artists and creatives in different mediums as well as introduce Radical Hospitality Tickets. The Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled and Hard of Hearing community should be able to experience any form of arts anytime, everywhere. Through this festival, they can! We want to spotlight amazing local and out of state talent here in the Pacific Northwest at the LX Festival,” says Deaf Spotlight Executive Director Patty Liang. 
 
Radical Hospitality Tickets are available at four levels, Inclusive, General, Patron, Benefactor, and there are two types of event tickets, individual event tickets or a festival pass for a seat at each event (one seat per repeated performances). 

The lineup for LX includes four weekends, including family friendly events: Art Night Out and Art Market, Dance performances - ideal for youths over 8, Visual Vernacular, and Deaf Talks. 8585 Fish and ASL Cabaret will be best for adults. Returning artists include Urban Dance Jazz Company, Justin Perez, and Perseus Max. Check the LX website for any updates, DeafSpotlight.org/lx2025. 

Limitless Expressions is made possible with generous support from: ArtsFund, ArtsWA, City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, Conru, HSDC, Seattle People Fund, and Urban Artworks. 
 
For LX inquiries: Theater@DeafSpotlight.org. 
For Communications inquiries: Communications@Deafspotlight.org.  
 
Weekend 1 • April 25 - April 27, 2025 • FREE RSVP 

Weekend 2 • May 2 - May 4, 2025 

Weekend 3 • May 9 - May 11, 2025 

Weekend 4 • May 16 - May 18, 2025 

About Deaf Spotlight 

Deaf Spotlight inspires and showcases Deaf Culture and Sign Languages through the arts. A nationally recognized leader in Deaf arts, the organization emerged from the first Seattle Deaf Film Festival in 2012. Programming has since expanded to include theatrical productions and festivals; curated art exhibitions; and workshops for Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled and Hard of Hearing artists. 

Deaf Spotlight https://www.deafspotlight.org
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