Photo: Credit to Steve Baldwin and Paul Rutowski
Official Press Release
February 10, 2012
Media Contact:
David H. Pierce
[email protected]
NOTED DEAF ARTIST AND ACTOR CHUCK BAIRD PASSES AWAY
Chuck Baird, who was born on February 22, 1947, attended Kansas School
for the Deaf, Gallaudet College (now Gallaudet University), and
Rochester Institute of Technology.
Upon completing his education, Chuck spent five summers at National
Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) as set carpenter and painter. He also did
various jobs developing his art in Upstate New York and Delaware.
He then moved to Austin, Texas, to become a member of Spectrum which
was nicknamed a “deaf art colony” from the late 70s to the early 80s.
In 1980, Chuck became an actor and set designer for NTD for 10 years.
Had the lead role in three plays: “Heart of a Lonely Hunter,” “King of
Hearts,” and “One More Spring.”
After his tenure at NTD, he lived in California and Arizona performing
at local theaters.
He then worked for DawnSignPress, a San Diego-based publishing company,
as an in-house artist creating a number of Deaf-related works which
culminated in a coffee-table book containing 35 plates of his work.
He then went back to Kansas City and Tucson running his own painting
studios. During this time, he traveled to paint murals or lead art
workshops for deaf children at schools, summer camps, and art
festivals.
His work led to the creation of a new art genre called Deaf View Image
Art (De’VIA) with numerous art exhibits all over the world.
Gallaudet appointed Chuck to help coordinate the visual arts
exhibitions for Deaf Way II in 2002. He also taught art there for one
semester.
Chuck then relocated to Austin, Texas where he continued his work until
his passing on February 10, 2012.
Monetary donations can be made to the Chuck Baird Fund c/o Dr. Steve
Baldwin at 501 Havana Street, Austin, TX 78704 by February 24, 2012 or
send flowers to Pam Farley at Bannockburn Baptist Church at 7100 Brodie
Lane, Austin, TX 78745-502 by noon February 12, 2012.
-oOo-