Newcomers is the fourth incarnation of The Silhouette Project - a recurring photographic series that illuminates the shadow voice of adolescent and young adult refugees, shining a light on marginalized communities too often hidden from mainstream society.
This visual expose created by artist, Dona Laurita, reveals the wildly diverse situations from which these Newcomers came, seeking refuge in the United States for a variety of reasons, personal and political. Despite their seemingly immense differences, there are many common themes woven through the stories of these courageous and vulnerable emigres.
“Dona came into their lives when they needed a voice. Even when their from-everywhere-but- here voices didn’t have the English words, she knew they had a voice. A voice that could be captured with a silhouette, an object (a butterfly, a soccer ball, a rainbow) decorating the background, a set of braids flying through the sky, a snow-covered backdrop of Denver’s best park out of focus... because her focus was them. Immigration stories. Refugee stories. Lost mother/father/brother/sister stories. Stories of trauma, of grief. Of hope, of renewal.
Dona listened to them all. She captured them all. She recorded their words, through our patient interpreters, through her patience, and through her kindness, until she had a moment to spend with her art. Her art would give a voice to the voiceless. Her patience and kindness made a home where the students often had none. Her love for what is good in humanity is found in their stories.
Dona Laurita is an artist, as are the Newcomers. And tonight, tomorrow, and for the future of humanity, they will share their art with you. The outlines of their young lives rest behind these images. Their words will haunt you and lull you to sleep. And you will see the beauty of life, the beauty of photography, the beauty of stories that we need to hear.
Dona has given a voice to the voiceless. Listen.”
— Karen Vittetoe, Newcomer English Teacher at Denver’s South High
Music Selected to Accompany The Newcomers Project
To get a closer look, click each image below.
The Silhouette Project Print purchases
The full collection of images in The Silhouette Project: Newcomers, are printed on poly paper. They are 24”x 36” created specifically for the exhibit and are available for purchase at $250/ea.
Also available are stunning metal prints of any image in the collection that are 12”x 18” for $500/ea.
The enthusiasm of the students wanting to be involved and my own creative excitement soon exceeded my budget of this self funded project and I have had to choose my materials wisely to represent all of the students that chose to participate while keeping the artistic integrity of the project which has contributed a bit to the imperfect nature of the print process I’ve used in my display. Regardless, I’m deeply grateful to Morrell Printing located in Lafayette, Colorado for once again providing me options, guidance and an ongoing exchange of creative ideas assisting me in seeing this body of work come to fruition.
A poster displaying all of the portraits is included with a donation of $60 or more to this project.
Please contact me for more information on print purchases.
Thank you so much.
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