September 13–December 6, 2018
While migration today has become one of the most divisive elements of our contemporary discourse, the arguments both for and against the newcomer—whether we mean migrants, immigrants, or refugees—echo throughout our history. Our immigration laws show how the entrance into the country has widened and narrowed since its beginning. Not all were welcomed, let alone considered equal. A century ago, Irish and Italian immigrants were characterized as criminals, as we are often told is the case for immigrants today.
America is bound together by the idea that, whether in our own lifetime or that of our ancestors, we all come from somewhere. As migrants, we bring with us different names, foods, and customs. We may look different from our neighbors. We may wear different clothes, speak different languages, and worship different gods—or none at all. We may elicit curiosity and fear. But choosing to learn each other's stories offers us a sense of belonging to something larger than ourselves.
The project from which these photographs are taken is about the process of moving—or being moved—to a new place. Rather than looking at migrants as faceless, nameless stereotypes, this project gives us individual stories. Using Pittsburgh as a lens through which to consider the American migration experience, the project shows how our paths are interwoven: each person's journey becomes a part of the culture we share.
Though the project is expansive, it is not possible to be all-encompassing. All around the country, the shaping of our cities and culture continues to unfold. Every story of immigration has its own set of circumstances and affects each area of the country in different ways. Our hope is that this project will create space for civil discussion that can lead to responsible actions. E Pluribus Unum—"Out of Many, One"—has informed the identity of this country since its inception. This is a project about us, about the stranger in all of us; it offers a glimpse of our collective story. It is the hope of the team that sharing this will encourage a sense of empathy among us, an appeal to what Abraham Lincoln described as "the better angels of our nature."
Brian Cohen and Laura Domenic, Curators, Out of Many: Stories of Migration