The 3 B’s, as they are affectionately known, are a trio of artists from Danville who work with stained glass. Barbie Harris, Beulah Hester and Betty Taylor are deaf and are involved with stained glass, a medium that is fascinating and challenging and sometimes frustrating – the glass, though spellbinding, also breaks. At one of the KSD bazaars they put together a booth of small works, mostly sun catchers. It was there that they came up with a logo "3-Bees", using the first initial of their names, “B”. They were offered a booth at the 1997 DeaFestival in Frankfort, but being still "green" to the idea of their work as profitable art, the booth was a bit overwhelming. It was, however, a learning experience for them in the gathering and sharing of information, suggestions, and the meeting of different deaf artists. In 1998 at the Deaf Artist Retreat at Open Ground they created a panel of glass entitled “Chaos and Serenity” as well as having the opportunity to see themselves as artist of their own right, not just three friends who made sun catchers for fun. Since then they have absorbed much from other artists, shared time together, become closer friends, and received orders for more of their work.

"When I became deaf at age 19 I realized that my interactions with the hearing world would never be the same. I found myself doing more and more portraits, as it afforded me calm one-on-one hours of getting to know and perceive the people I am fascinated with and care about. There was communication and knowing of the other on some deep cellular level that did not require the spoken word. As a romantic, I realized it is my tendency to canonize and exalt those who allow me to create after their image. I love the connectivity that comes from doing portraits as much as I do the art itself. Over the years, how I interact with the world at large and how I do my art have evolved and shifted. As a certified massage therapist, I started to see the beauty of each client and the possibility of the skin as canvas. As I started to meet people who were open to becoming living art, I was charmed by the realization that it was a whole other level of silent communication and communion between model and artist. The great abyss of misunderstanding and miscommunication seem to abate and diminish as the models and I create work of what I hope will be their truth and beauty.

As you look at my work you may wonder, “What is this about?” My hope would be to represent the fact that every person has their story, their complexity, their difficulties, and their gifts. I venture into the individuals’ shadowlands and interior in search of who they really are and what they can allow themselves to share. My goal is to reveal what is possible on the model’s skin. Politics and division, differing beliefs and opinions, linguistic knowledge and skill or the lack thereof all fall away as the true self is revealed.

The true self revealed is the ultimate in communication I seek. To create these works as a deaf artist, I am perceiving through the skin, energy, make-up, paint, intention, and the sheer determination that is fueled by love, respect, and the will to listen and represent. More often than not, I am left in awe of the human spirit and gratitude for what the models allow to manifest.”

A lifelong Texan, Tony Landon McGregor was born in Garland on November 18, 1958. He became deaf when he was approximately 18 months old, from hereditary causes.

Strongly inspired by Southwestern Indian designs, especially the Mimbres drawings, Tony McGregor uses wood burning tools to etch the designs onto the gourd’s surface. His Southwestern Native American-styled gourds have been shown at many festivals in Texas and New Mexico. And many galleries in those two states, and in some on the Eastern Seaboard, carry Tony’s fine gourd artworks. Each is a unique, exquisitely handcrafted work of art.

“I am always involved in many things with my hands; I am constantly experimenting with art. My favorite medium is mixed media. For the last 20 years, I have traveled to West Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah, and those areas have greatly influenced my way of thinking. The most prominent artists who influenced me significantly are Georgia O’Keefe of New Mexico and, of course, Francisco de Goya of Spain. In addition, I have been surrounded by Native American friends living in the Southwest area and their culture and folklore are fascinating to me. I have been exploring juxtaposition as a concept in many of my artworks. To me, it means a unique blending of two cultures: the Native American culture and Deaf culture. This concept creates a new frontier called Southwestern DeVIA art. The works of art I have composed are extensions or dimensions of my artistic personality.”