Mosaic Project: Immigrant Stories Are American Stories (2024-ongoing)
The Mosaic Project is an ongoing art initiative I have been developing to explore and celebrate the hybrid identities of individuals who have recently migrated to the United States. This collaborative effort highlights the diverse layers of cultural identity, weaving together personal histories from participants' birth countries with their lives in the U.S.
The project involves a series of workshops where immigrants share their personal stories and contribute photographs from their past and present to create photo-collages. These visual narratives are combined with portraits I take during the workshops. Using eco-friendly printmaking methods, participants—many of whom have no formal art training—craft artworks that reflect the complexity and richness of their migration journeys. These workshops not only empower participants to tell their stories through art but also foster connections among individuals from diverse backgrounds.
I then curate these visual stories, blending elements that symbolize participants' cultures and upbringings, into a hand-bound book as the culmination of multiple workshops. These final works, crafted with care and intention, offer a powerful narrative of identity and belonging while highlighting the humanistic nature of immigration. These are human stories—with their triumphs and turning points—they are American stories.
This project is made possible with the generous support of Thrive International in Williamsport, PA, which provides workshop space and resources, and the Puffin Foundation, which funds the art materials.