What is the Immigrant Art Journal?

The Immigrant Art Journal is a digital space for Auraria students to describe their or their families’ immigration experience through various forms of art. Submissions may include anything that we can reproduce on this page: drawings and other visual art, poetry, narration and story-telling, photos of sculptures, or videos, and can be about any topic related to immigration:

movement of people, families, and individuals

the physical journey or its outcome

family, neighbors, and community

adjusting to a new life, “living in two worlds”

the strength of families and immigrant communities

your ideas!

Students, faculty, and staff on the Auraria campus are equally invited to provide submissions. With enough submissions, we hope to turn this digital collection into a printed journal in the future – stay tuned!

#1 — What's Your Story?

Italu Ramos - What's Your Story
Italu Ramos

#2 — Family

Alejandra Ruiz - Photo One
Alejandra Ruiz
Alejandra Ruiz - Photo Two
Alejandra Ruiz

“A great way for the world to see what is going on in the world is not only by listening to what is going on but to also have a visual representation of what it is. A photograph can speak so many words. Family is a word that can mean something different for many. Family to me means unity and love regardless of legal status; all families should be together and should not have to hide from anyone or anything.”
— Alejandra Ruiz

#3 — In-Between (2020-2021)

Taiko Chandler's Art Piece: In-Between

Medium: Collage with original relief and monotype prints.

Size: paper 16″ x 14″ (image: approx. 9″ x 8″)

Year: 2020

“Ever since I moved to the U.S. from Japan, I feel as though my identity has been sifting between the dominant culture of my everyday life here and the core Japanese culture that shaped me growing-up. The longer I live here, the more I adapt to this culture and feel more American, but also the more I miss Japan. This emotional tension is highly salient for me and, while I feel as though I have the best of both worlds, I also feel that I will never truly belong in either place.”
— Taiko Chandler

#4 — Veronica Hernandez

Veronica Hernandez
A painting/drawing that represents me.
Veronica Hernandez's Second Piece
First originated at El Salvador, came to blossom at Colorado.