Many immigrants are concerned about their safety and the possibility of deportation amid increased attention on actions by some U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. A Rockford artist says her gallery is a safe space and is showcasing the work of immigrant artists. WNIJ's Yvonne Boose attended the opening reception for the "A Nation of Immigrants: United We Stand" exhibit.
A diverse crowd filled 317 Art Collaborative on Friday, July 10. The artists featured in the exhibit represent more than a dozen countries.
"Everything from Mexico, Colombia. El Salvador, Moldova, Congo," explained Laura Gomel, executive director of the venue. "I mean, it just goes on and on."
Gomel said her husband is from Indonesia, giving her family a personal connection to the immigrant experience.
"I want all of our community," she added, "regardless of where you come from, what your religion is, what your race is, what your preferences are — in whatever aspect of life you want to share, you're welcome to be here,"
Cristina Langarica's parents immigrated from Mexico, but she was born in Rockford. Her acrylic and colored-pencil collage was originally created as a high school project.
The artwork features a map of the United States and Mexico. Langarica said green arrows represent the hope for a better life in the U.S., while red arrows represent the possibility of people being sent back to Mexico. At the center of the piece is a young boy.
"A sad child, you know, upset about the fact that you know his family could be turned apart at any moment," she said. "So that's what I wanted to show."
Monica Walk is taking in the exhibit.
"There are a few artists here who are talking about hardships that they've dealt with," Walk said, "and it's really poignant to see it laid out on a canvas. There's an artist whose origins are from Japan who was really sharing some horrible things that have been said to him."
Molly Carter, a painter and board member at 317 Art Collaborative, said the exhibit is especially relevant during a time of heightened political tensions.
"Especially in this kind of heightened nature of politics in our country right now," she explained, "I feel like there's a lot of issues that need to be addressed, and something like this brings people together and celebrates our differences."
The evening concluded with a storytelling session.
Linda Zuba, with the immigrant advocacy group Welcome with Dignity 815, said sharing personal stories is an important way to build connections.
"It's how you can connect," she said. "People are judging immigrants without even knowing their journeys. Why is it that an asylum seeker happens to need to be forced out of their home?"
She said immigrant stories should come directly from immigrants themselves.
Zuba immigrated from Colombia as a child. Her family moved to Los Angeles, where she said they were welcomed with love.
"Things changed when we moved to the Midwest," Zuba said. "It was a different world, and I think a lot of it is if you don't understand someone, if you don't know people from a different culture, a different country, there's a lot of judgment."
The exhibit "A Nation of Immigrants: United We Stand" will remain at 317 Art Collective through Aug. 29.
Copy Edited by Eryn Lent
