Curated

by Keungsuk Kim Sexton
 
October 20th to November 19th, 2006
 
K.K.Sexton writes: "This nation was formed, and transformed, through a series of "diasporas" - migrations of our ancestors from all over the world. In the modern context, "diaspora" is a powerful and apt metaphor for our present condition: the sense of loss, longing, restlessness and unease that "is in the air" throughout the current American landscape:

• Catastrophes-both natural and man-made----such as 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Enron---have forced people to abandon their homes and to seek new communities promising safe shelter-both literally and figuratively.
• The search for a safe haven has led to the current wave of Mexican immigrants reaching record dimensions.
• Our sons and daughters now fighting the war in Iraq have migrated to a frightening and foreign place, but the loved ones left behind are also feeling adrift and emotionally displaced.
• Demographic studies show that Americans no longer stay put, but continually move around from place to place, from city to suburbs, and back. With the uncertain economy and portends of a real-estate bubble, mass migrations in the near future are not unlikely.
• In our ever-increasingly multicultural society, all facets of our identities are in flux as well: racial, ethnic, cultural, sexual, religious, socio-economic. America, the land of self-invention and re-invention.
• American Diaspora" also refers to yet another type of migration making recent headlines: the transfer and export of American values, culture, technology and systems - political and industrial.

Whether a migration is forced or chosen...whether it is instigated by a government...or by a disastrous force of nature... or caused by a profound life-shift such as divorce, death, illness or loss of a job....in order to fully explore the concept of diaspora, this exhibit will seek to broaden the definition to include not only the physical act of moving, but also the spiritual and emotional dislocations and transformations that can occur-even in a life spent entirely in one location."


Karen Abboud ° Gloria Adams ° Bradley Allen ° Nadine Anderson ° Bill Ayton ° Aileen Bassis ° Leticia Bajuyo ° Saul Becker ° Jay Boucher ° Eloise Bryan ° James Brown, Jr. ° Sarawut Chutiwongpeti ° Marisa DiPaola ° Tyler Evans ° David Rios Ferreira ° Ronald Gonzalez ° Audrey Gottleib ° Timmy Graham ° Kathy Hughes ° Jun Ishida ° Heather Hart ° Anni Holm ° Laura Hewitt ° Steve Jarvis ° Christine Kesler ° Carter King ° Lori Kirkbride ° Michael Krynski ° Robert Lach ° Joe Levickas ° Carmen Lizardo ° Erica McDonald ° Patrick May ° Max-Carlos Martinez ° Kay Miller ° Joe Nanashe ° Ibou Ndoye ° Denis Peterson ° Lisa Na M. Red Bear ° Keungsuk K. Sexton ° Adam Simon ° Helen M. Stummer ° Kim Su Theiler ° Joya Angola Thompson ° Noelle Williams ° Stafford Woods ° Kim Bello Weiss ° Loura van der Meule ° Duat Vu ° John Westmark ° Lili White ° Sari Wynne ° Nina Yankowitz