The University’s Counseling and Testing Center is showing two exhibits discussing immigration and what constitutes a family. The artwork is on loan from the Community Alliance of Lane County. CALC works to promote public policies based on social and economic justice.
The show, which ends this week, is the first the testing center has hosted, but they plan for it to be the first of many.
“We’re hoping to display student art as much as possible,” said Gwen Jansen, the assistant to the center’s director. “Specifically, art that would speak to our community.”
The first exhibit discusses the issues around immigration by showing pictures of real immigrants and documenting their feelings about America. The pictures challenge the current stereotypes around immigration, displaying people of all races and all different backgrounds. The second exhibit centers on challenging the definition of a traditional family. It shows pictures of so-called ‘non-traditional’ families.
Though the exhibit was planned for later in the year, the testing center chose to display it now because of recent political advancements. “When the recent legislation allowing domestic partnerships passed, we called CALC and said, ‘Bring them both over!’” Jansen said.
Eventually, Jansen hopes that the entire display area can host work done by University art students. “Our hope is that we could work with the art department and allow students who are pursuing art administration to run the space.”
Students who are interested in helping the testing center develop this space should contact Gwen Jansen at [email protected].
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