immotions.org

Announcing immotions.org! A new experimental digital storytelling website dedicated to sharing experiences told by immigrants about their immigration experiences. Through aural, visual and text-based storytelling, learn real life stories of what it’s like to move from one’s home country to live in another culture.

Join us for a web preview on July 18, 3pm to 5pm at Intermedia Arts.

Meet the artist leaders, community participants from the Twin Cities, Faribault, Windom and Mountain Lake who came together to share photos, videos, artworks, writings.

Explore the Talking Suitcases containing the representations of mementos, anecdotes, emotions that immigrants brought with them.

Hear powerful stories of survival, poignant stories about leaving home and finding home, and the many adventures and misadventures of immigrants who have gone through hell and high waters to make Minnesota their home.

Learn how we went beyond spoken native languages to articulate our life stories beyond words.

Thank you to our partners for coordinating with us, providing us the space, helping to identify community participants for this program:
Milo Larson and Bob Kell (Faribault Diversity Coalition)
Sia Her and May Lor (Hmong American Partnership)
Nan Kari (Jane Addams School/Crossing Borders)
Cathy Peterson and Judy Harder (Intercultural Communities Uniting).

Thank you to our artist leaders Edwin Beyleran, Tamar Ghidalia, Aksana Muratalieva, Roberto Rivera, Katie Vang for turning on their creative energies to respond to the many immigrant stories we shared!

Thank you to our beloved community partners who shared their  reflective stories of courage and hope, humor and celebration, spunk and determination!
    From Faribault: Abe Garcia, Abshir Mohamed, Joseph Mbele
    From Windom: Soco Caballero, Salvador Caballero, Cathy Peterson
    From Mountain Lake: Andreina Rojas, Rose Rojas, Judy Harder
    From Hmong American Partnership: Kyin Lah and Lin Tin
From Crossing Borders: Aaron Hokanson, Benjamin Jarillo, Chang Xiong, Deb Klein, Derek Johnson, Eduardo Jurado, Kim McKercher, Kor Lee, Lindsay Walters, Mukhtar Gaaddassar, Nan Kari, Warda Geele

Thank you to our Digital Community Advisory Committee (2007-2008) who provided the creative seeds, the immigrant perspectives and the multicultural insights:
    Adnan Al-Shati
    Aksana Muratalieva
    Edwin Beylerian
    Isa Saddiq
    Jesse Anderson
    Jila Nikpay
    Katie Vang
    Lorena Duarte
    Matt Lang
    Tamar Ghidalia
    Zarhra Farah;
Americorps/ Community Technology Empowerment Project Linda Shoemaker, Les Lim, Gina Blankenship, Emily Mercer

Thank you to our Web Team: Evelyn Khoo, Tim Kokes, Edwin Beylerian, John O’Brian.

Thank you, Susan Armington, for inspiring artists and non-artists alike to find their voice and capture stories we can hold in our hands and hearts through the Talking Suitcases Workshop!

Thank you to Karon Sherarts, evaluator, voice-of-conscience, friend!

Thank you, Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Minnesota for making this all possible!!!

For questions, please e-mail marlina@intermediaarts.org.

Event is free! To reserve a seat, please call Intermedia Arts at 612-871-4444.