Immigration/Assimilation is site-specific public art created for display inside one Arlington Transit (ART) public bus.
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In Immigration/Assimilation, I document the immigration, forced migration, and assimilation experience of six Arlington residents. The stories present a broad spectrum, ranging from an African American family living in Arlington since the Civil War to recent immigrants to a descendant of an indentured servant arriving from 1600s England. They are mostly told in two panels: the first describes why they made the journey and the second follows their life afterwards. This project conveys a message of tolerance and highlights that – save for Native Americans – we are a country of people who originated from many distant lands.
Additional panels were displayed in the lobby of the Bozman Government Center, 2100 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA February 23, 2019 – August 2, 2019. These panels were transferred to the Arlington Department of Human Services for display in their office.
Support provided by Arlington County Department of Human Services, Arlington Cultural Affairs, Arlington Transit, and JBG SMITH.
Video on Gail Rebhan’s Art on the ART Bus
Reviews
Washington Post Express An exhibit on an Arlington bus documents the inspiring stories of local immigrants by Stephanie Williams
Arlington Now Art Focus: Art on the ART Bus Immigration/Assimilation