Recently, over 100 students from Boston International Newcomers Academy’s (BINcA) senior, junior and “newcomer” grade levels visited the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in Boston. Their field trips took them to see “When Home Won’t Let You Stay: Migration through Contemporary Art,” an exhibit that gives voice to the experiences of refugees, immigrants, and displaced peoples.
Whether performing John Clare style “I Am!” poems on a small stage, or engaging with the exhibit’s interactive features, students explored what it means to be an immigrant. BINcA serves a 100% immigrant population with students from more than 30 countries and speaking 18 different languages. One student was so inspired by the exhibit, they shared their own experience of crossing the border between the United States and Mexico with their classmates.
In partnership with 826 Boston’s BINcA Writers’ Room, seniors also got the chance to re-phrase their college essays into art. ICA teaching artist Katytarika Bartel worked with students to create self-portraits representing their own immigration stories. These pieces of art will be displayed on the ICA Teens website to complement the exhibit.
You too can view, discover and interact with the ICA’s migration exhibit from now until January 26, 2020 in Boston’s Seaport District. While you’re there, we encourage you to support BINcA students’ immigration stories by picking up a copy of Like the Sun in Dark Spaces or I Want You To Have This on sale in the ICA’s store.
← Previous
Next →