NEW EXHIBIT AT CANTIGNY PARK EXPLORES FACES AND STORIES OF TEENAGE IMMIGRATION
“My parents’ sole reason to emigrate from the Barbados to the United States was to give my brother and me more opportunities and a better life. They have made many sacrifices, and I hope to make them proud and never let them down.”
– Ishmael Alleyne, age 17.
Wheaton, Ill. (June 27, 2007)
Alleyne is one of 59 teenagers who participated in photographer Barbara Beirne’s study of recent immigrants’ experiences. These photographs are available for public viewing in a new traveling exhibition curated by the Smithsonian. Black and white photo-interviews – photographic portraits captioned by the subject’s own words – offer a thought provoking exploration of immigration, acculturation and cultural diversity.
“Becoming American: Teenagers & Immigration” will open at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Ill. on July 3. It will be on view in the Visitors Center through Sept. 3. Developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, the exhibition will travel around the country on a national tour through 2011.
“The McCormick Tribune Foundation and the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum are excited to partner with the Smithsonian Institution and bring this exhibit to the people of Illinois, said David L. Grange, president and chief executive officer of the McCormick Tribune Foundation. This exhibit reflects our Foundation’s commitment to encourage all citizens, new and old, to become full participants in our country’s social, cultural and political life, strengthening our free, democratic society.”
Faces Revealed
Beirne’s images capture first-generation immigrants and children of immigrants, revealing a diverse array of teenage responses to the immigrant experience. By photographing her subjects in their own communities—on a basketball court, at a place of worship, in a parent’s shop, at school and within their homes—she presents sensitive portraits, which give viewers an opportunity to better understand the complexity of the newcomers’ lives.
“The young people presented in this exhibit give evidence that America, the land of immigrants, continues to attract courageous newcomers seeking freedom and opportunities,” stated Beirne. “These teenagers, who have struggled with the difficulties that accompany enormous change, bring with them the strength and determination needed to become an essential part of their adopted land. I look forward to watching their futures unfold.”
The accompanying narratives bring a vivid reality to the immigrant experience. Some stories are brimming with optimism: “Now I can go to school. This country is good,” proclaims Diana Ingabire, 15. Other comments reflect the hardships of being culturally different: “After the terrible events at the World Trade Center,” 16-year-old Sohale Mehrmanesh muses, “I’m afraid that all Arab people will be suspected of terrorism.” Many of the teens offer poignant observations about their new country. “I was surprised that there were so many homeless people living in this city. How could this happen in America?” asks Guinea native Mawa Fofana, 17.
Beirne’s interest in immigration began in 1999 with a photography assignment to document Kosovar Albanian refugees airlifted from overcrowded camps in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to military housing at Fort Dix, N.J. In time, Beirne managed to make friends with a few Kosovars who were relieved to find sanctuary in America, but the photographer admits that she was “overwhelmed with concern” about the immigrants’ uncertain futures in the United States. One by one, the newcomers moved out of the camp, leaving Beirne to ponder how they would adapt to life in this country. Attempting to answer that question and document the shared hopes and challenges of these youths, Beirne began interviewing and photographing immigrant teenagers from countries around the world.
Barbara Beirne has worked as a documentary photographer for more than 25 years. She has photographed in Belfast, Northern Ireland, India, Nepal and Ecuador. Her photographs have been widely exhibited in museums and galleries. Among her projects in the United States are photographs of women in Southern Appalachia. The images were featured in the well-received SITES exhibition “Serving Home and Community: Women of Southern Appalachia.” Beirne holds a masters degree in photography from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Cantigny Park is located at 1s151 Winfield Rd. in Wheaton, Ill. The hours of operation for the park and grounds are 9 a.m. to Sunset, Tuesday through Sunday. Admission to the park is $7 per car, $8 per car on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, please visit
www.Cantigny.org.
About the Smithsonian Institute Traveling Exhibition Service
SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 50 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. Exhibition descriptions and tour schedules are available at
www.sites.si.edu.
About the McCormick Tribune Foundation
The McCormick Tribune Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to making life better for our children, communities and country. Through its charitable grantmaking programs, Cantigny Park and Golf, Cantigny First Division Foundation and the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum, the Foundation is able to positively impact people’s lives and stay true to its mission of advancing the ideals of a free, democratic society. For more information, please visit our Web site
www.McCormickTribune.org.
###