Inspire Us Recipient Artwork

Inspire Us Recipient Artwork

First Floor Artwork

Here is the artwork found on the first floor of our Cochlear Americas headquarters. Click on an image to see a larger version of that art.

Beatriz turns to her creative side to express herself and her hearing-loss journey, so it’s no surprise that the 18-year-old represented Cochlear in a national urban art event in Brazil to raise awareness about hearing health. The ‘Ear Parade’, showcases a series of 60 giant ear-shaped sculptures painted by renowned local artists. Sponsored by Cochlear, the event is considered to be the world’s first urban art event that focuses on hearing health with sculptures displayed in public places around Sao Paulo including shopping malls, plazas and on sidewalks. Beatriz was chosen to design one of the ears after winning a Facebook competition run by Cochlear Latin America as a way to involve recipients in the country-wide initiative. Recipients were invited by Cochlear to submit design entries and finalists’ designs were posted on Cochlear Brazil’s Facebook page. Beatriz’s entry won the overall competition by generating the most likes – 1,700 in total. Beatriz, who was implanted at age three, was drawn to the competition because of her love of art and drawing, which she says has helped her to communicate and open up in difficult times during her teenage years. Now with her Cochlear implant, Beatriz says ‘sound fills the world with life, it fills it with joy and that makes me very happy and makes me feel connected’.

Beatriz M.

Altônia Paraná, Brazil
My sister-in-law makes beautiful ceramics. She created this after I spoke to her about my implants. She knows how Cochlear has changed my life and that of our family thanks to Cochlear!

Elizabeth D.

St. Clair, Michigan
After being in the building trades for 35 years I started losing my hearing about 28 years in. Fast Forward... I would go to get lumber or stains/varnishes and would not ask questions because I was concerned I wouldn’t hear the answer. The word “what” came up a lot. After my 1st implant in 2011, “what” wasn’t used as much. When I became bilateral after my 2nd implant in 2013, I didn’t hesitate to ask questions because I was confident I would HEAR the response and it changed my life! (Jerry's easels are being used to display the smaller artwork in a variety of areas throughout the building.)

Jerry F.

Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Words, phrases, sentences have not only a sound but a feeling, a texture. With hearing loss the sound may fade but the feeling remains in memory. We can call it up when we need or want to. Cochlear helps us keep sound and feeling together for a richer life.

John E.

Salem, Oregon
This artwork was created with pen, pencil, and marker, and was inspired by my own journey with hearing loss. Being born deaf, but also being able to hear with cochlear implants, has given me a perspective of both realities. To me, sound is beautiful, vibrant, dynamic and powerful; silence is isolating, quiet, and constant, yet also peaceful. I am so thankful for the ability to hear and experience the wonders of sound with my cochlear implants.

Julianne H.

Madison, Alabama
This artwork was created solely with pencil and is inspired by my journey with deafness. At a very young age, I received cochlear implant technology and I am blessed to hear with my cochlear implants. Something Helen Keller once said resonates with me strongly, “Blindness separates us from things, but deafness separates us from people.” Without cochlear implants that allow me to hear and connect meaningfully with other people, I would live a completely different life. Deafness has made me who I am today, and I would not trade my journey for anything.

Julianne H.

Madison, Alabama
At 11 years old, I had partial hearing loss and I started to notice how little sounds slipped away from me. By age 16, I was completely deaf living in a hearing world. As the time passed, I knew which sounds I missed the most. I could remember my mom’s voice or hearing my father and brother laugh in the other room. Those little sounds like crunching leaves and birds outside my window or my mom calling my name. My favorite singer’s music or my grandfather whistling when he was being mischievous. I was deeply deaf until age 30. Now that I am a cochlear implant recipient, I enjoy all those little sounds all over again. I love to hear my mom’s voice or the wind while I walk, my sons calling for me or saying I love you from the other room. Being able to hear my husband’s voice, I love hearing all my family laugh. Discovering that my brother’s grown up voice resembles my father’s. Or hearing my dogs snore while sleeping. And all these sounds, old and new, that fill my brain and ears are here, thanks to Cochlear. My life changed thanks to all my doctors, audiologist and the support of my family when I decided to get a cochlear implant. I am a mosaic and glass artist and I am learning to use other medias to express myself. When I learned about this opportunity, I had to plaster my feelings in this mixed media creation. This is a glass on glass mosaic of my face wearing a ceramic cochlear implant. I had to let the world know I am a proud cochlear implant recipient.

Martha P.

Old Hickory, Tennessee
This photo was taken at Mono Lake, California when I was traveling in late 2017. Out of all my travels, this is my favorite unedited photo. I was so pleased I had captured such amazing colors contrasting in the sky. I love expressing my creative side whether I’m taking photos, drawing, painting or writing. It’s part of what got me through my 12-year progressive hearing loss journey.

Nicola C.

Coquitlam, British Columbia - Canada
As a professional singer, losing the hearing in my left ear had a major impact on my performances. Not being able to hear the music on one side forced me to concentrate on hearing the sound through my right ear. This, in turn, caused a great amount of stress. Although I am now retired, since receiving my implant I can, once again, enjoy music the way it should be heard... through both ears!

Richard B.

Boonton, New Jersey
This is a series of drawings shown in a graphic novel style. The first drawing depicts the day I experienced activation after 40 years of deafness. Depicting the fears and apprehension and finding the inner strength and resolve for the transition.

Steve D.

Louisville, Colorado

Other Floor Artwork:

Explore other artwork found on other floors of our Cochlear Americas headquarters.

3rd Floor Artwork

4th Floor Artwork

5th Floor Artwork

Views expressed are those of the individual. Consult your health professional to determine if you are a candidate for Cochlear technology.

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