Finding Home, an exhibit by Aurora photographers following immigrant families in the city, opens Saturday at the Pierce Art and History Museum, 20 E. Downer Place in downtown Aurora.
The Aurora Public Art Commission is hosting the exhibit, which will run through Nov. 2 in the third floor gallery.
During the last few months, each photographer was partnered with a local family who came to the Aurora area as forced migrants, according to Jennifer Evans, director of art for the city.
The focus of the photographs is on an item that the family kept close with them during their journey from their home country to their new home.
Participating families have come from places including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Myanmar, Latvia and Mexico, Evans said.
The exhibit is free, although donations to the gallery are always accepted.
The opening reception for Finding Home will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the gallery. Foods from Iraq, Ethiopia, and Myanmar will be served. There is a suggested donation of $10 for the food.
Among the participating photographers in the exhibit are: Jason Arthur; Randy Benzie; Margaret Byrne; Alfredo Castil; Donnell Collins; Juan Fernandez; Monique Jiminez; Christopher Krause; Toty Pix; Nick Thompson; and Lauren Vago.
There will be other events during the course of the exhibit. From 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 20, several Aurorans who came to the U.S. as refugees will tell short anecdotes from their long trips. The event will include conversation, coffee and pastries.
The closing reception will be a Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) party from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 2, during Downtown Aurora’s First Fridays event. There will be hot cocoa, tamales, music and paper crafts, organizers said.
For more information, go to www.aurora-il.org/329/Public-Art-Commission, www.facebook.com/aurorapublicart, www.instagram.com/aurorapublicart, or email jevans@aurora-il.org.
