Note: Andrea Echavarria is WPSD Class of 2009.
Andrea Echavarria is inspired for her paintings by how she believes something sounds.
You can’t hear the images but she hopes you can envision the splash of waves on a beach, an American flag flapping in the wind or fireworks exploding from the canvas.
Echavarria is deaf.
“These paintings represent my world,” Echavarria said through interpreter Eileen Noble. “They are a way for people to understand.”
The Edgeworth resident will be the featured artist at Spinning Plate Gallery in the Friendship/East End area of Pittsburgh from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Jan. 18. Admission is free. The artwork will be for sale and prints will also be available.
The exhibit, “See What I Hear,” is a series of paintings grouped by titles such as “The Silence of Sound,” “Beauty of Noise,” and “Break of Silence.”
The exhibit was first scheduled for March 2020 but was postponed because of the covid-19 pandemic.
Many of the paintings are colorful. In the past year, Echavarria has experimented with resin. The idea came from spotting scraps of old paint pieces on the table and floor of the Etna studio she has shared with Pittsburgh artist Tom Mosser since 2014.
She made an acrylic on canvas resin overlaid over acrylic pieces on a wood panel. She calls it “Sound Wave” and it depicts boats on the water. It’s an aerial view, which is a nod to artist Gray Malin, a fine art photographer.
Mosser, who is Echavarria’s mentor, helped her connect with the gallery.
“Andrea has a passion for art,” Mosser said. “Through her art, she shows the challenges she faces and it inspires me to overcome the challenges I face.”
One of her favorite pieces depicts a sunset.
“It’s a peaceful feeling,” she said.
She has one that has three panels called “A Storm of Color Approaches.” It has a bicycle image inspired by her father Christian’s love of bike riding.
There are several circular paintings where the center represents quiet.
Echavarria, 36, got a cochlear implant when she was 21.
“The way I hear isn’t the same as you do,” she wrote on Instagram. “A cochlear implant isn’t like a normal ear. It’s an electronic device that replaces the function of the inner ear, sending sound signals to the brain. For me the sound is more than just noise — it’s something I feel as much as I hear. My mind translates these signals into experiences: the ripple of sound waves, the splash of a water drop, or the gentle hush of snow falling. I feel included with this show and I feel a sense of pride with this show.”
So does her mother Laurel Echavarria.
“To work so hard and have this show is wonderful,” Laurel Echavarria said. “It can be lonely not being able to hear and you can feel cut off from the world. Art is a way to connect with people and she can communicate how she is feeling through her artwork.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
This article is posted by JoAnne Klimovich Harrop, TribLive on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 2:01 p.m.