Dyer Arts Center

HOURS (unless otherwise noted):
Mon-Fri 10am-4pm,
and by appointment

NTID Dyer Arts Center
LBJ Building
52 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623
VP: 585-204-2205
Voice: 585-475-5024
dyerartscenter@rit.edu

About the Center

Photo of woman at looking at wall of art works. The Joseph F. and Helen C. Dyer Arts Center at NTID houses several state-of-the-art galleries that showcase artworks created by current students, alumni, and artists who are nationally and internationally renowned. All of these artists are deaf, hard of hearing, and/or allies of the Deaf community.

The center also hosts art-related educational activities such as lectures and demonstrations, and serves as a multi-use facility on the campus of Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. The center is unique among other galleries on campus for its permanent collection of works by deaf and hard of hearing artists.

Thanks to a leadership gift from the late Joseph and Helen Dyer, long-time supporters of NTID, the center opened in the fall of 2001.

History

Joseph and Helen Dyer
Long-time supporters of NTID, Joseph and the late Helen Dyer, are deaf college graduates. They completed college in a time when very few deaf people did, and they did so as mainstreamed students without any support or access services.

In 1997, the couple established the Joseph F. and Helen C. Dyer Endowed Scholarship Fund at NTID. The fund benefits NTID/RIT students in good academic standing. In early 2000, the Dyers pledged $2.5 million to fund construction and development of the Joseph F. and Helen C. Dyer Arts Center at NTID.

"NTID at RIT is of great importance to the deaf community," says Joseph Dyer. "Helen and I wanted to help support NTID, which has made significant contributions to deaf education, technology and the arts."

Mr. Dyer attended the New Jersey Institute of Technology in the 1930s and became an engineer for a pharmaceutical company.

Hailing from Iowa, Mrs. Dyer's father moved to New York City to become an accomplished corporate attorney with many high-level contacts across America. He developed an appreciation for art, which he passed on to his daughter. Mrs. Dyer attended Clarke School for the Deaf in Northampton, MA., and received her bachelor's degree in sociology from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa.

Helen Dyer, 90, of Delray Beach, FL., passed away on Sept. 9, 2001. She was an avid artist who enjoyed oil painting. "We believe the arts are a large component of a well-rounded college education," Helen Dyer said before her death. "Expression through art for deaf people is especially meaningful and beneficial."

Elizabeth W. Williams
The Elizabeth W. Williams Gallery is the main gallery of the Joseph F. and Helen C. Dyer Arts Center, and serves a multitude of functions, including the exhibition of works by various artists, seminars, and hospitality functions for both NTID and RIT.

The gallery was made possible by a $500,000 gift from long-time NTID supporter, the late Elizabeth "Cookie" Williams.

Milton H. and Ray B. Ohringer
The Milton H. and Ray B. Ohringer Gallery is dedicated to improving educational opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing young people, Ray Ohringer funded construction of the Milton H. and Ray B. Ohringer Gallery in the Dyer Arts Center. Ray, who retired from IBM after 34 years, lives in New York, NY and Boca Raton, FL. She and her late husband, Milton, who was a certified public accountant, established The Milton H. and Ray B. Ohringer Endowed Scholarship Fund at NTID.

Event Scheduling

The Dyer Arts Center was originally designed and set up as an exhibit space to showcase and house art, including temporary exhibits and NTID’s Permanent Collection of Art. This is the main priority for the use of the space and like other art galleries on campus, it is not an appropriate venue for general events. Events that are scheduled in the NTID Dyer Arts Center are directly associated with the mission of NTID/RIT and specifically sponsored and paid for by either the RIT or NTID Presidents’ or Development Offices. The space is not available to external organizations without the consent of the NTID President. When this consent occurs, then a rental contract is issued through the RIT Office of Special Events.

The capacity of the NTID Dyer Arts Center varies depending on the size of the exhibit in the space. The RIT Environmental Health & Safety Office has put a limit of 100 people for most gatherings in the space. Any event larger than 100 people must also use the first-floor “street” of the LBJ Hall.

Hours

The Joseph F. and Helen C. Dyer Arts Center at RIT/NTID welcomes all visitors.

Except for major institute holidays, summer session, exhibit installations, and scheduled special events, the Gallery's hours are Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 4:00pm, and by appointment.

Location

The Joseph F. and Helen C. Dyer Arts Center is a state-of-the-art facility at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf on the campus of Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. It is located inside the Lyndon Baines Johnson Building. The postal address is 52 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623.

Directions

From the Airport:
Turn right onto Brooks Avenue, then a quick right onto I-390 South. From 390, take the next exit (Scottsville Road) and turn right at the end of the ramp. Drive for approximately three miles, then turn left onto Jefferson Road (Route 252). Proceed east a short distance to the second campus entrance. Turn right onto campus at Lowenthal Road at the stop light just before the Radisson Inn.

From the NYS Thruway:
Take Exit 46. Immediately after exiting, get on I-390 North and refer to directions below:

From I-390:
Take Exit 13 (Hylan Drive). Take a left onto Hylan Dr. and continue north to Jefferson Road (Route 252). Then and take a left at the light. Proceed west a short distance to the main campus. Turn left onto campus at Lowenthal Road at the stop light just after the Radisson Inn.
After entering campus:
At the first stop sign (end of Lowenthal Road), you will be facing Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) Hall. Make a left turn onto Andrews Memorial Drive and then a right turn onto Lyon Crescent. There are signs for visitor parking and also twenty minute parking is allowed in designated spaces with flashers turned on. As you enter the front doors of LBJ, the gallery is located on the first floor just off the lobby to the right.

Featured Events/Exhibits

The ART of Book Making: Surdists United Illustrated Children’s Publications

Ohringer Gallery

Friday, October 25, 2024 - Friday, February 7, 2025

The exhibition “The ART of Book Making: Surdists United Illustrated Children’s Publications” offers an intimate look at the creative journey behind Surdists United’s books, which celebrate the achievements and resilience of notable Deaf Americans. These books highlight figures like the first female pilot from South Dakota; a Deaf-Blind Yale graduate and lawyer; De’VIA movement founders; and artists, activists, and educators across various backgrounds. Established to uplift Deaf creatives and bring Deaf narratives into public spaces, Surdists United began with a Kickstarter campaign that funded its first publication. Deaf illustrators such as Vicki Campos-Hamilton, Laurie Monahan, and Yusuf Yahya, along with art director Nancy Rourke, bring these ancestor stories to life, blending unique artistic styles with vibrant mediums like watercolors, digital art, and mosaics. The exhibit also showcases work by writers and editors Patti Durr and Karen Christie along with ASL poem videos. Through this display of drafts, sketches, and final artworks, the exhibit aims to inspire pride in Deaf heritage and encourage future Deaf creatives to share their own stories.

[Image ID: The graphic for the exhibition features an ombre design that transitions from blue at the top to white at the bottom. At the top, the title reads: "The Art of Book Making: Surdists United Illustrated Children's Publications." This section displays images of four colorful book covers, each showcasing stylized illustrations that likely depict children's stories. Below the images, the exhibition dates are announced: October 25, 2024 – February 7, 2025. Further information indicates that the exhibition will take place at the Ohringer Gallery, located in the Dyer Arts Center, 52 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623. The gallery hours are Monday through Friday, from 10 AM to 4 PM. At the bottom of the graphic, the words "RIT Dyer Arts Center" are prominently featured in a stylized font, accompanied by the smaller text "National Technical Institute for the Deaf," which signifies the institution hosting the exhibition.]

NTID Performing Arts 50 Years

Williams Gallery

Friday, October 18, 2024 - Friday, May 16, 2025

We are thrilled to present an exciting exhibition at the Dyer Arts Center, celebrating the NTID Performing Arts' 50th anniversary! Explore historic highlights of our shows from the 1970s to 2024. An opening event will be held on October 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Dyer Arts Center. The exhibition will feature the rich history of the NTID Drama Club, Experience Experiment Theatre, RIT Dance Company, Sunshine Too, and more. Discover a captivating array of costumes, props, models, lighting, pictures, posters, and other memorabilia. Don’t miss this opportunity to relive and celebrate our remarkable journey in performing arts!

A special Director's Panel will be held on Friday, October 18, at 7:30 pm in the Panara Theatre. Esteemed directors Patrick Graybill, Jerome Cushman, Bonnie Meath-Lang, Aaron Kelstone, Jim Orr, Thomas Warfield, and JW Guido will share the stage reminiscing with stories, memories, and discussions about the history and future of Performing Arts at NTID. Admission is free but registration is required.

For more information, contact dyerartscenter@rit.edu or visit rit.edu/ntid/dyerarts-center to learn more about upcoming events.

[Image ID: Poster with the words Celebrating 50 Years weaved within a graphic that consists of 2 hands colored orange, words Celebrating 50 Years in black, and the two comedy and tragedy masks colored orange and grey. Below are the words NTID Performing Arts Special Events in orange. Below is a photo of performers cheering. Below that are the words Retrospective Exhibit, October 18, 2024 to May 16, 2025, Dyer Arts Center.]

Giving

If you wish to contribute to the Dyer Arts Center with a supporting or memorial gift, you may do so by check or online.

Thank you very much for your support of the Joseph F. and Helen C. Dyer Arts Center.

To make a donation by check

Checks should be made payable to:
RIT/NTID
with Dyer Arts Center on the memo line of the check
Mail your check to:
Rochester Institute of Technology
University Advancement
P.O. Box 92765
Rochester, NY 14692-8865

To make a donation online, click the link below and follow the prompts:

Dyer Arts Center - Special Exhibits

About the Center

Featured Events/Exhibits

Related Links

Giving