Art students from Gallaudet University showcased their photography at the Washington offices of Barnes & Thornburg during a reception Thursday evening.
The firm partnered with the university, which focuses on educating students who are deaf and hard of hearing. This is their first joint event.
"Artwork can be anywhere, including lawyers' offices," Michelle McAuliffe, assistant professor of art, said through an American Sign Language interpreter.
Karen McGee, the managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg's Washington office, said that the photography exhibit will hang on the walls of the firm until January, when different works from Gallaudet students will replace the existing art.
"It was evident on the first meeting that this is what we wanted to do," McGee said.
McGee and McAuliffe said that there isn't a concrete plan for their partnership. The two floated the possibility of having a panel discussion about the artistic process.
Samantha Liddick, a senior at Gallaudet from Ithaca, N.Y., said that this is her first public exhibit outside of the school. She said that art has been a big part of her life, starting at a young age.
"My ultimate goal would be a famous deaf artist and encourage others to be involved in art," Liddick said through a translator. "This is a big deal for me."
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