Hopes Realized, Dreams Derailed

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.

Spaceworks Gallery is open Monday – Friday 1 – 5 p.m., and 1 – 9 p.m. on the third Thursday. Free and open to the public. At 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.”

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. This exhibit is supported in part by the Washington State Arts Commission, Allied Arts Foundation, and Humanities Washington.

Also on display is the “Migration Now!” portfolio and the “Art & Global Justice Poster Project.”