Today I attended the convocation in the music building that featured art by and about immigrants. It was really interesting to see how the different artists recorded their immigrant experience. There were several pieces that I enjoyed. The first piece that really caught my eye was titled Passport to Freedom by Nikki Yang. It depicted a young Asian boy holding a card with an identification number; next to him is a young Asian adult holding an American visa; next to him, on the far right, was the image of an old Asian man holding his US passport. I liked this picture because it was a very powerful depiction of the time involved in the process of becoming a US citizen. It was a very powerful piece that I was drawn to right away.
Another piece by one of the CSP faulty members was called a knarly old tree stump fused with fresh, new, "synthetic" wood from Menards for the branches. I really liked how it represented the immigrant experience, especially the immigrant children. In my opinion, that's the hardest thing to go through: trying to merge ones home culture while at the same time exploring one's new opportunities as an American.
The final piece that I was really drawn to was a self-portrait by Hend al-Mansour. It depicted her hand on the steering wheel of the car, with her wedding band and her thumb, decorated with henna. Again, I loved the juxtaposition of tradition and new opportunities (aka, the henna and the act of driving). That sort of tension is something that I'm subconsciously drawn to in art.
Overall, it was a pretty powerful experience. Maybe it's not something that I can really relate to, but I have definitely gained something from it. I'm not sure if I can actually explain the thing that I've gained. But one thing is for sure - I am more aware of immigrants and their emotional struggles than I was before the convocation.
Another piece by one of the CSP faulty members was called a knarly old tree stump fused with fresh, new, "synthetic" wood from Menards for the branches. I really liked how it represented the immigrant experience, especially the immigrant children. In my opinion, that's the hardest thing to go through: trying to merge ones home culture while at the same time exploring one's new opportunities as an American.
The final piece that I was really drawn to was a self-portrait by Hend al-Mansour. It depicted her hand on the steering wheel of the car, with her wedding band and her thumb, decorated with henna. Again, I loved the juxtaposition of tradition and new opportunities (aka, the henna and the act of driving). That sort of tension is something that I'm subconsciously drawn to in art.
Overall, it was a pretty powerful experience. Maybe it's not something that I can really relate to, but I have definitely gained something from it. I'm not sure if I can actually explain the thing that I've gained. But one thing is for sure - I am more aware of immigrants and their emotional struggles than I was before the convocation.
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