(Picture above by Khokolah Sherzad)

Dear Younger Me

Postcards from New Americans to Their Past Selves

JULY 20 – AUGUST 25, 2018

Opening Reception: Friday, July 27, 2018 (6 – 9 pm)

Location: COLORADO PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS CENTER (1070 BANNOCK ST, DENVER, CO 80204)

Picture Me Here, a storytelling program for refugees and immigrants, will exhibit photography and writing by New Americans that are adjusting to life in Colorado. The artists created postcards addressed to their former selves (before migrating and resettling) to share their experiences and impressions of life in America, what they will enjoy here, what’s challenging, and what they will miss about their home country. Each postcard includes their own photography and writing. The artists are from a variety of countries (Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Brazil, Ukraine, Nigeria and Congo) and they are engaged in a year long creative media and storytelling fellowship run by Picture Me Here.

The exhibit will be up July 20-August 25. Opening reception: July 27, 6-9pm. Fellows will be present to discuss their work and give a brief talk.

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP

This fellowship program is made possible by a grant from Arts In Society, a collaborative grantmaking program funded by Hemera Foundation, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation and Colorado Creative Industries and administered by RedLine. These grants support projects that implement artistic excellence to engage social issues in communities across Colorado. Picture Me Here was founded in 2012 to provide refugees and immigrants the training and tools needed to share their stories, and build new skills, while also fostering diverse communities and integration in Colorado. “Our mission aligns deeply with the Arts In Society grant criteria, so we were excited to apply and thankful to receive such great support. Our participants create beautiful works of art, share powerful, personal stories about their migration and resettlement experience, all while building professional skills. They are deeply supportive of one another, and enjoy sharing their work with each other and those outside our community. Art and storytelling have the power to break down barriers and exhibit visitors get to know our New American neighbors in a deeper way than what they may hear on the news, or through preconceptions.” says Brigid McAuliffe, director and co-founder of Picture Me Here.

ABOUT PICTURE ME HERE

Picture Me Here partners with Colorado Photographic Arts Center as a fiscal sponsor. Picture Me Here is a storytelling program for refugees, immigrants and others who have been displaced. Photography, video, animation and writing are taught as creative tools for self expression, social engagement, community building, leadership, and integration. Projects are based on a variety of themes including migration, memory and place. Participants explore and share their personal histories, cultural identities, new surroundings and resettlement experiences. They build skills in technology, English language, leadership, and public speaking. Projects culminate in exhibits, screenings and events that bring together diverse groups to view photographs, hear stories and build new connections. Please visit picturemehere.org for more information and to view past projects.

EXHIBITING ARTISTS  

Include Goshen Carmel, Nawid Danishjo, Juliana Matias, Sara Nassr, Solomon Okhihan, Zahraa Saleh, Khokolah Sherzad, Masodah Sherzad, Rookhan Sherzad, and Volodymyr Petruniv.