Brooklyn!
photos by Girish Gaur
That's me, on February 14, 2020, opening night at the Green Door Gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, welcoming Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, and Fr. Thomas Vassalotti, Pastor of Divine Mercy Parish to the reception. Bishop DiMarzio has for many years led efforts to welcome and help settle immigrants and refugees. He urged me to bring Portraits of Immigrants to Brooklyn, to honor all those who live and work there. The show closed March 8, less than a week before the Coronavirus shut down the city.
Next stop:
B'nai Jeshurun on Manhattan's Upper West Side.
The exhibition was scheduled to open in the synagogue on March 20th, but has been delayed by city orders to halt public gatherings -- an effort to slow down the spread of the dreaded virus.
B'nai Jeshurun on Manhattan's Upper West Side.
The exhibition was scheduled to open in the synagogue on March 20th, but has been delayed by city orders to halt public gatherings -- an effort to slow down the spread of the dreaded virus.
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"Brought tears to my eyes. What an incredible story and show!"
"Uplifting and enlightening. I will spread the word far and wide."
"A stunning and eye opening exhibit. Thank you for a beautiful experience."
Comments quoted here and below are from the Guest Book.
March-April, 2019 The Riverside Church in the City of New York |
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"As wonderful as the portraits are, so too are the stories. I want all of them to be neighbors or friends!"
The Riverside installation (below and right as it appeared before opening.)
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The first exhibition of 16 portraits and stories opened in January, 2019, in beautiful Andrew Hall in
Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York City.
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Photos by Reiko Yanagi.
We hit room capacity at the opening. I spoke there about why I'd spent two years finding and interviewing immigrants and refugees, then painting their portraits, and writing their stories. You can see the video by pressing the button below.
The show ran through February 15, 2019.
Today's immigrants on display under the portraits of former rectors of venerable Saint Thomas Church.
In May, 2018, the first nine portraits and stories were on display in the
Long Island City Arts Open Festival.
photos by Girish/Speliotis
Viewers wrote:
"Thank you for showing another side! Your collection and stories are beautiful and inspiring!"
- Laura Fernandez.
"Thank you for sharing the American Dream and showing that it comes in all shapes, sizes and colors."
- Raymond Lam.
"What a beautiful thing you have done! Thank you for bringing these stories alive,"
- The Rev. Canon
Carl F. Turner, Rector, Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue.
"You are doing God's work,"
- Susan Ridgeway, Executive Director, The Church Club of New York.