Immigration - Hopes Realized, Dreams Derailed

A multimedia exhibition about immigration and detention on display at the 950 Gallery. Curated by art critic Susan N. Platt and mural artist David Long, the exhibit addresses the urgent issue of immigration from multiple perspectives.

EXHIBIT DURATION
June 30 – August 17, 2017

Closing Reception August 17
Politics, Poetry, Music, FREE

TACOMA, WA – Immigration: Hopes Realized, Dreams Derailed is a multimedia exhibition about immigration and detention on display at the Spaceworks Gallery. Curated by art critic Susan N. Platt and mural artist David Long, the exhibit addresses the urgent issue of immigration from multiple perspectives.

It features intense work by undocumented immigrants, former detainees, current detainees, DACAs (Delayed Action for Childhood arrivals), college students, grass roots activists, self- taught artists and professional artists. The exhibit includes paintings, sculptures, collages, glass arts, films, photography, and videos. The works range from heartfelt to playful, interactive to informative, and poetic to didactic.

At the opening, July 20, and the closing, August 17, the Spaceworks Gallery will have music, poetry, and performances, as well as immigrant rights leaders speaking about the essential contributions of immigrant workers and the oppressive conditions in the Northwest Detention Center.

“Our purpose is to open up the conversation about immigration and to embrace the many ways in which immigrants are the essential fabric of our society,” said Platt. “In addition to visiting the gallery, we invite visitors to participate in various ways such as playing games, manipulating sculpture, responding to interactive posters, or browsing our reading section.”

Migration Now! : A Portfolio of Prints Sponsored by Justseeds and CultureStrike; Co-organizers Favianna Rodriguez & Roger Peet. Migration is a phenomenon, not a problem, something that simply is. The right to migrate and to move freely is our human right. When societies restrict or choke off the movements of their citizens, they end up doing the work of a dam- they generate power and control floods, but in doing so they destroy life and wreck the surrounding space. We want to re-imagine migration as an inevitability, as a social practice that is not to be prevented but to be related to, like weather. All migration starts with social relationships. When people move, they are going either towards their families or communities, or more often, away from them. They move to help their relatives, or support them by leaving. People migrate because their homes stifle them, because those homes become burdens they need to shed in order to have full lives. They move in search of opportunity, or to escape their past, or to simply survive. They move because of lies they are told and that they come to believe, and they move to fulfill the most beautiful and fragile of dreams. Migration is fundamentally about our right to move freely across planet Earth, in search of our fullest and best selves. Artists include: Pete Yahnke Railand, Ray Hernandez, Julio Salgado, Thea Gahr, Kevin Caplicki, Erik Ruin, Claude Moller, Ernesto Yerena, Felipe Baeza, Cesar Maxit, Dylan Miner, Oree Originol, Santiago Armengod, Shaun Silfer and Janay Brun, Favianna Rodriguez, Melanie Cervantes, Fernando Martí, Jesus Barraz, Oscar Magallanes, Nicolas Lampert, El Mac, Art Hazelwood, Lalo Alcaraz, Colin Matthes, Molly Fair, Josh Mac Phee, Emory Douglas, Meredith Stern, Roger Peet, Irina Crisis, Raoul Deal, Mary Tremonte, Kristine Virsis, Diane Ovalle, Jesse Purcel, Imin Yeh, and Bec Young

Work by Ricardo Gomez: Two Sides of the Wall, 2017, mixed media reused materials (wood labyrinth, saw, lego, mirror, tray), $1000

Works by Devin Reynolds: Settle the Right Way, Settle the Mayflower Way, 2017, Acrylic on wood & “It wasn’t me it was my grandpa who owned slaves.”, 2016, Acrylic spray paint on wood

Work by Deborah Faye Lawrence: Game of the Occupied States, 2017, Collage on TV tray, $1200

Works by Ricardo Gomez: Portrait of a Migrant, 2015 mixed media, reused materials (shoebox, mirror, tray), $1000 & Portrait of a Migrant, 2017, mixed media, reused materials (framed mirror, photos), $1000

Tatiana Garmendia In A Green and Peaceful Neighborhood (six panels) 2017 13” x 17” each Embroidered doilies on aerial photographs Serving as surrogates for the domestic domain, each of the embroidered doilies testifies to the brutal disruption the artist’s family suffered when the father was forcibly removed by authorities. Mounted on aerial drone photographs of local suburban neighborhoods, they signal it can happen anywhere, anytime. Geographical differences and generational distance between persecuted groups vanish in light of human suffering.

Works by Pavel Bahmatov: Purses, picture frames, boxes, Ramen wrappers, candy wrappers, and dental floss. "I was born in Uzbekistan and my family moved to the US as refugees when I was 12 years old in 2004. I got in trouble with the law in 2007 and at 15 years of age got sentenced as an adult to 100 months incarceration. Upon the completion of my sentence I got picked up straight from the correctional facility by ICE, on December-31, 2015 and transferred to NWDC. I am currently being held by ICE at NORCOR facilities in The Dalles, OR and still fighting my battles. I use plastic wrappers from candy, ramen noodles and cookies. Most of the art is woven and then sown with plastic string that we make out of garbage bags. It might not seem like much but if you see that we make all these thing without any tools, like scissors, you will be amazed." Purses: $75 - $100, Shoes: $25, Picture Frame: $20,and Heart Shapes Jewelry Box: $45

Drawings and Writings by Children Participated in a May 1st Booth Organized by Susan Platt & Raúl Sanchez in Seattle, WA, 2016

ART & GLOBAL JUSTICE POSTER PROJECT by UW Tacoma students. Statement from Beverly Naidus, artist/writer/activist and Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Arts at UW Tacoma: "In Spring 2017, I had the privilege of teaching a new course, "Art & Global Justice,” to a cohort of Global Honors students at UW Tacoma. Students came from diverse majors: Psychology, Criminal Justice, Accounting, Environmental Science, Urban Studies, Health Leadership, Marketing, Math and Global Studies. Our first project was to make a digital image that speaks to contemporary immigration issues. I asked students to research the issues thoroughly. If they were unaware of the for-profit prison for undocumented neighbors near our campus, I asked them to learn about the NW Detention Center and respond to how its existence made them feel. We took a field trip to the NWDC and met with folks who have been doing support work with the prisoners as part of the NWDC resistance group (nwdcresistance.org). We learned about the hunger strike and how the GEO Group who runs the center collects $100/day for each prisoner. We learned that the prisoners have very uncomfortable living situations, poor health care, inadequate food and are paid $1/day for their work to maintain the prison. Students were very moved and disturbed to hear stories from the activists. The students were also asked to interview their peers and neighbors who are concerned about their DACA status and the current legal challenges and political situation around immigration, visas, green cards, etc. They were asked to translate the issues and their feelings about them into metaphor and visual images. Most of these students were making art for the first time and had to learn skills for making digital images, as well as the fundamentals of visual grammar and design. We had several feedback sessions to help the students revise their first drafts and ultimately put the finished work on display in the UW Tacoma library." Posters are $100 each. Students include: Josephine Green, Cassandra Green, Karla Gonzalez, Diana Algomeda, Fazeema Bano, Emily Clouse, DA James Christian, Ryan Hanley, Krystal Hedrick, Natalie Lawrence, Wesley Scott, Carolyn Reed, and Levi Reinwald

Works by MalPina Chan: A Nation of Immigrants in Pursuit of Happiness, 2017, Mixed media, $750 & Underneath it all, we are all the same, 2017, Mixed media, $750

Works by Arni Adler, Ushering In, 2017, Acrylic on board, $425 & The Welcome, 2017, Acrylic on canvas, $500

Janice La Verne Baker, Immigration, 2014, Mixed Media. This painting is about separation from family. It is also about having to hide who you are from those you love. It is about the choices a person has to make when the prejudices of the world become the law. It is dedicated to two wonderful women I know who are DREAMERS and who deal with the uncertainty about the future every day. The DACA program (also referred to informally as the “DREAMers” program) was created through a June 15, 2012 DHS memorandum issued during the Obama Administration. In order to qualify for DACA, individuals must prove that (1) they were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012; (2) they came to the U.S. before reaching their 16th birthday; (3) they have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time; (4) they were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making the request for DACA consideration; (5) they entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or their lawful immigration status was expired as of June 15, 2012; (6) they are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are honorably discharged veterans of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and (7) they have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety. Individuals who qualify for DACA may currently continue to apply for initial approval and extensions in two-year increments. However, the future of DACA is still uncertain as it does not, alone, lead to any long-term solution to unlawful immigration status. Individuals in DACA status should continue to follow the developments as the Trump Administration may still be considering the termination of DACA in the future, pursuant to the leaked draft Executive Order discussed above. The Trump Administration does not require approval from Congress to immediately terminate DACA, should it decide to do so.

Works by Pam Orazem, Card Game, 2017, Pencil $250 & Geo Dream, 2017, Pencil, $250

Works by Tatiana Garmendia: Middle Row: Dr. Jose Manuel Garmendia Sr., Abuelo, Dr. Jose Manuel Garmendia Jr., Papi & Dr. Jose Manuel Garmendia Sr., Hermano, 16” x 16”, graphite on distressed cotton handkerchief, 2017. Outer Rows: In A Green and Peaceful Neighborhood (six panels), 2017, 13” x 17” each, embroidered doilies on aerial photographs. Serving as surrogates for the domestic domain, each of the embroidered doilies testifies to the brutal disruption the artist’s family suffered when the father was forcibly removed by authorities. Mounted on aerial drone photographs of local suburban neighborhoods, they signal it can happen anywhere, anytime. Geographical differences and generational distance between persecuted groups vanish in light of human suffering.

Work by Andrea Eaton: Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, 2017, Screen Print/Mixed Media, $120. Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos was 14 when she left Acambaro and crossed the border to Nogales, Arizona in hopes of a better life. 21 years later, after 8 years of obediently meeting with ICE agents, and after a harsh 100 days under Trump, things changed. 8 years ago, Garcia de Rayos was the subject of a workplace raid, and subsequently was arrested for using a fake social security number thus being convicted of felony charges a year later. “After her conviction she appealed a court order to voluntarily deport and lost. She became the subject of a removal order in 2013 and was placed court-ordered supervision, which required her to report on a provided schedule to an ICE office until her order of removal was "affected," or acted on.” With a felony charge under her belt, a long history in Phoenix of racial and ethnic profiling, and a tumultuous new immigration policy, Guadalupe went to her final ICE meeting only to find out she would not be returning to her family. Garcia de Rayos story is a classic immigrant tale, one that is overwhelmingly filled with love and hope, yet is turned into one a tale of stealing and pillaging by those privileged enough to never understand. And while Garcia de Rayos was offered sanctuary at a local church, she refused, she wanted others to understand the magnitude of such policies. She explained in an interview: "I don't regret it, because I know I did this so that more families could see what's in store, what could happen, and so that they could know what they could risk,Trump is not harming the adults and the parents who get deported, but it's different for the children left behind in the United States. I am not what he says. I simply am a mother who fights for her children, who fights to give them the best." I believe that Garcia de Rayos’ story is one of immense importance, especially in an age rampant with Islamophobia, racial biases, and outright bullying. With this in mind, I want to highlight her passion without overshadowing it. I in no way can claim this story as my own. I am a white upper middle class American who will never truly understand what this woman has gone through/continues to go through. But, I can use my privilege to speak her name and make sure she is remembered as the powerful and loving Latina that she is. Say her name, and remember it along with the many other immigrants who have battled so hard for a better life.

Participating Artists Include:

Arni Adler, Pavel Bahmatov, Janice La Verne Baker, MalPina Chan, Maria De Los Angeles, Andrea Eaton, Christian French, Tatiana Garmendia, Ricardo Gomez, Deborah Faye Lawrence, David Long, Marilyn Montufar, Pam Orazem, Devin Reynolds, Blanca Santander.

Also on display is the “Migration Now!” portfolio including prints by: Lalo Alcaraz, Santiago Armengod, Felipe Baeza, Jesus Barraza, Shaun Slilfer and Janay Brun, Kevin Caplicki, Melanie Cervantes, Raoul Deal, Emory Douglas, Molly Fair, Art Hazelwood, Ray Hernandez, Nicolas Lampert, Josh Mac Phee, Oscar Magallanes, Fernando Martí, Colin Matthes, Dylan Miner, Claude Moller, Oree Originol, Roger Peet, Jesse Purcell, Favianna Rodriguez, Erik Ruin, Julio Salgado, Meredith Stern, Mary Tremonte, Kristine Virsis, Peter Yahnke Railand, Imin Yeh, Ernesto Yerena.

Also featured is the “ART & GLOBAL JUSTICE POSTER PROJECT” (UWT) Instructor: Beverly Naidus, artist/writer/activist and associate professor of interdisciplinary arts, UW Tacoma with participating students: Diana Algomeda, Fazeema Bano, George Camacho, Emily Clouse, DA James Christian Flores, Karla Gonzalez, Cassandra Green, Josephine Green, Ryan Hanley, Krystal Hedrick, Natalie Lawrence, Wesley Scott, Carolyn Reed, Levi Reinwald.