THE BAY STATE: A MULTICULTURAL LANDSCAPE OPENS IN NEW BEDFORD
The exhibit runs through March 20th. See the events listing for details.
The exhibit runs through March 20th. See the events listing for details.
Wild Turkeys, Falmouth Copyright © Mark Chester
Read MoreWCCA TV13 produced Soapbox show is hosted by WCCA Executive Director Mauro DePasquale. Mauro's guests are Olga Kwasniewski and Olta Kodra. The topic of discussion is immigration.
Olga and Olta represent The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape with their inspiring personal perspectives.
Falmouth Museums on the Green
55 Palmer Ave
Falmouth, MA, 02540 United States
The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape, Photographs of New Americans by Mark Chester is a moving and powerful exhibit of more than 300 newly naturalized U.S. citizens who are residents of the Commonwealth. These inspirational photographic portraits create a visual archive celebrating the diversity of Massachusetts’ citizens from 165 countries around the globe. New Americans enriches the viewer by sharing the vast cultural resources and rich ethnic heritage of the Massachusetts’ 351 towns and cities.
The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape — Photographs of New Americans by Mark Chester was introduced in the Scandinavian Cultural Center's Nordic Hall to a diverse group, some in attendance participants in the project and others observers. The photographer, introduced by the SCC's cultural director, Christina Mealy, spoke of his inspiration and his mission to amass portraits of naturalized US citizens from the many countries of the world who reside in Massachusetts, for a book and exhibition, an example on display in the hall, that, with the book's publication, will launch at the New Bedford Art Museum. Three of the portrait subjects were invited up to the podium and each spoke movingly of the work and reasons for being involved.
Westy Egmont, Boston College professor and director of BC's Immigrant Integration Lab then gave an informative talk "exploring the history and current story of those who started life again in the States and made America the 'nation of nations' we know," entitled “Up the Golden Stairs: Dreams of Being American”.
Mark Chester's portraits feature in an interactive, touch-screen world map at the newly reimagined Dreams of Freedom Museum, 50th floor of Boston's Prudential tower.
Read More“As you know it took him 30 years to become a citizen. He was so excited and we celebrated at a nearby bistro…. I do want to tell you that you made him feel so special that day. You added so much excitement to the day, signalling him out and taking pictures that he was so proud of and showed everyone. He even remembered that you told a woman who wanted to take pictures that this was a private session. He would tell everyone that the pictures were going into a professional book about immigration.”
–Patricia Anderson
Luis Edward Lozano-Pazmino of Hyannis was born in Ecuador in 1930 and became a citizen of the United States in 2013. He passed away on December 31, 2013 during a visit to Ecuador.
The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape is a moving and powerful exhibit of more than 300 newly naturalized U.S. citizens who are residents of the Commonwealth. These inspirational photographic portraits create a visual archive celebrating the diversity of Massachusetts’ citizens from 160 countries around the globe. A Multicultural Landscape enriches the viewer by sharing the vast cultural resources and rich ethnic heritage of the Bay State’s 351 towns and cities.