Photo of Chuck Baird, a 1967 graduate of the Kansas School for the Deaf and renowned DeVIA artist, which is short for Deaf Visual/Image Art. The art form is a combination of traditional art forms — paintings, drawings, sculptures — with elements of American Sign Language mixed in. Baird spent the weekend back in Olathe, celebrating the school's 150th anniversary with about 1,000 other alumni.

The Kansas School for the Deaf’s campus welcomed about a thousand alumni back to the school this weekend in celebration of the school’s 150th anniversary.

For those who’ve spent their formative years at the school, the event is more than a high school reunion, said Sandra Kelly, director of the Deaf Cultural Center, which is across from the school.

“It’s a family reunion,” she said.

One of the school’s notable alumni, renowned artist Chuck Baird, made the trip back to reminisce with old friends, or what he calls his “school family.”

Baird, who graduated from the school in 1967, has left his mark around the school, as examples of his “DeVIA,” short for Deaf View/Image Art, adorn the hallways and buildings on campus.

The art form is a combination of traditional media — paintings, drawings, sculptures — with elements of American Sign Language mixed in.

Since graduating from the school, Baird has worked for various theater companies and art studios, and his work has been showcased all over the world.

Baird, who was born in born in Kansas City, Mo., said students from the school instantly shared a deep connection.

“Right away we have a bond,” he said.

Baird said it’s clear to see the mission of the school in the success stories of former students.

“This school was designed to bring the deaf and hard of hearing to get educated so that they can be a whole person,” he said, “to be citizens and give back to the community.”

See examples of “DeVIA” artwork at LJWorld.com.