The 2014-2015 series Exploring Schenectady’s Immigrant Past at the Schenectady County Historical Society will celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Schenectady County and will explore the history and significance of immigration in the region.
As part of the series, SCHS is has announced a Call for Submissions for its upcoming community-curated art exhibit, Where Do You Come From. The exhibit, made possible in part by a grant from the Schenectady County Initiative Project, will explore the wide range of cultures that makes up Schenectady County today. Community members, local artists, and students are all invited to submit their artwork, including but not limited to paintings, collages, photography, sculpture, or whichever medium best answers the title question.
Guest community curators, including Frank Taormina and Marsha Mortimore, will join SCHS’s curatorial staff to select which pieces to include in the exhibition. The number of pieces selected will depend on the number and size of submissions. In conjunction with the exhibition, a student essay contest will ask area students to reflect on their heritage and immigration’s impact on the county. Selected quotes from the essays will accompany the exhibit. An opening reception for the exhibition will be held on Saturday, November 15 at 2:00pm.
The exhibit will be located in the Van Shaick Gallery of the George E. Franchere Center at the Mabee Farm Historic Site, and will be on display from November 15, 2014 – February 7, 2015.
The Exploring Schenectady County’s Immigrant Past series will also include a history exhibit exploring the ties between technology and immigration in Schenectady, a student essay contest, and a rich program of speakers covering topics ranging from the Erie Canal to researching your own immigrant ancestors, and more.
More information about the series, including details for submitting artwork to Where Do You Come From is available on their website.
For more information, please contact:
Jenna Peterson Riley, Educator/Assistant Curator
Schenectady County Historical Society
Phone: (518) 887-5073
E-mail: educator@schenectadyhistorical.org
Mary Zawacki, Curator
Schenectady County Historical Society
Phone: (518) 887-5073
E-mail: curator@schenectadyhistorical.org
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