Deaf artist Olivier Jamin shares news of two art trails he’s working on this summer (BSL)

Hello everyone, I hope you are well. I am a deaf artist and I am excited to share some exciting news with you all.

After the recent successful Paws on the Wharf trail that I was involved in with Guide Dogs UK, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to continue showcasing my art through two upcoming art sculpture trails, namely The Short Tail by Keech Hospice and Light the South by Southampton Hospital Charity.

The Short Tail Trail features my sculpture called “Mad Hatter in Luton-Land” and was Commissioned by Keech Hospice. You can find the trail across Luton town and parks from 6th July until 12th September 2024. My sculpture will be in in Wardown Park.

The trail is made up of 90 hares and tortoises which will form the biggest and most unique outdoor public art event Luton has ever seen. These sculptures will shine bright along the fun and family-friendly art trail around Luton’s town centre and local parks, aiming to bring together the community for an unforgettable event.

For more information about this trail, including the trail map or to bid on a sculpture, please visit: Short Tail Trail or watch the BSL video on their website. 

The second trail I am involved in is called “s2”>Light the South Trail with my sculpture which is titled “Pop Art Twister.” It was commissioned “s1”>by Southampton Hospital Charity with the trail across Southampton and Cowes from 13th July until 8th September 2024.

You can find my sculpture in Cowes!

For more information including the trail map or to bid on a sculpture, please visit Light the South Trail and you can also view a BSL video about it on this Facebook page.

Southampton Hospitals Charity aims to light up the South with a large-scale public art event that they have promised will ‘captivate your senses and ignite your imagination.’ There will be 40 8ft lighthouse sculptures on display throughout the streets and public spaces of Southampton and Cowes, each one designed by artists both local and renowned, plus 40 mini lighthouses designed by local education groups.

Only one Deaf artist – myself! – is participating in both trails, so please don’t miss the opportunity to see them!

Participating in the Mad Hatter in Luton-Land project has been particularly special for me. The piece features BSL fingerspelling which spells out ‘L-O-V-E,’ and Keech Hospice has supported my vision by developing trail resources to encourage everyone to learn BSL fingerspelling.

You can find more details about this sculpture here: Mad Hatters in Luton-Land BSL

In the Pop Art Twister sculpture , I enjoyed infusing my unique style and patterns to inspire people to explore the lighthouse. Being part of this trail is a brilliant opportunity for me. It’s a chance to showcase my Deaf talent and serve as a role model for other Deaf individuals, demonstrating that Deaf people can achieve anything.

I encourage everyone to apply and explore the various opportunities available through Wild in Art across the UK. I do hope lots of you will go and enjoy the trails!

To see more of Olivier’s work: https://www.ojart.net/