Gallery Slideshow BRYCS would like to express our

Gallery Slideshow BRYCS would like to express our deep appreciation to the dedicated teachers and service providers who suggested the wonderful artists and art works featured here. BRYCS is project of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/Migration and Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS) Click to move to the next slide

New Eyes on Our New Hometown: The Birth of My Nephew (Photograph) - Alexis – Mexican-American, age 18 Kentucky Youth Advocates My name is Alexis. I was born in Chicago, Illinois and my dad took me to Mexico when I was 8 months old. He brought me back when I was 12 and I have been in the USA for 4 years and in Louisville for 2 years. I’m a senior in high school. I’m interested in computers and anything that has to do with technology. My photograph is titled: “New Eyes on Our New Hometown: The Birth of My Nephew”.

Faith Transcends the Waters (Photograph) – Yasmani - Cuba, age 15 Kentucky Youth Advocates My name is Yasmani and I am a 9 th grader at Iroquois High School. I came from Cuba and I’m 15 years old. I have been living in Louisville, Kentucky for 7 years. I like where I’m living. Every one is friendly and really nice. It’s a beautiful city with a lot of opportunities that you should take advantage of. Also there are so many things to enjoy! I liked that we were able to take pictures and actually do something with them like posting them at the Pegasus Gallery at the Louisville International Airport for all to see. My photograph is titled “Faith Transcends the Waters”

Torn Between Turmoil and Tranquility: Coping with a New Life in Louisville While Family Remains in Iraq (Photograph) – Duua – Iraq, Age 17 Kentucky Youth Advocates My name is Duua. I’m from Iraq. I have been in Louisville, KY for 5 years and I’m a student at Iroquois High School. In addition, I have 3 brothers and 3 sisters. I like to read and I love photographing. What I liked about this project is that it gave us a chance to show our city and the things that mean a lot to each one of us. We expressed ourselves by shooting pictures of things we like and are meaningful to us. My photograph is titled: “Torn between Turmoil and Tranquility: coping with a new life in Louisville while family remains in Iraq. ” My mother had just spoken to my brother, who is in Iraq, and could hear bombs going off in the background.

Growth in the Midst of Diversity (Photograph) - Ngoc – Vietnam, Age 18 Kentucky Youth Advocates My name is Ngoc and I have been in Louisville for two and a half years now. Since I came to the United States alone at the age of sixteen, I had a hard time adjusting to the new environment. Nevertheless, I’m glad that I had come to Louisville because I feel very welcomed as a “Newcomer” to the country and especially to Louisville. People here amicable and generous. The environment is always safe and fresh with green trees everywhere. That’s the reason I am very grateful to be involved in the “Voices from the ‘Ville” program of Kentucky Youth Advocates. Not only I have a lot of fun carrying out the project, but also have a chance to express the sense of secure and free I feel living in the city through my photographs. The program was really interesting and I enjoyed my time working on the project. Not only I had a chance to take a lot of pictures of Louisville, my New Hometown, but I also got a chance to get professional feedback to make them even better. Knowing that my opinion of our city expressed in my pictures is treasured by viewers makes the program even more meaningful to me. I am sincerely grateful to be a part of the project. My photograph is titled “Growth in the Midst of Adversity” and for me represents a mirror to life in the US as a young refugee.

Mandela Design (Markers on Paper) – Samiro Yussef – Somalia, 10 th grade Jefferson County Public School My name is Samiro. I am from Somalia and I came to the United States on October 17, 2006. My father was a doctor in Somalia, when my sister and I were born. I do not remember Somalia at all because when I was a year and a half my family moved to a refugee camp in Kenya. While we were in Kenya, my little brother and two sisters were born. I lived in Kenya for fifteen years. I went to school there up to the ninth grade. Then my family moved to America. When I first came to America I was not very happy because there were so many people I did not know. It was the first time I saw such large buildings, especially the buildings downtown. Then I went to school at the ESL Newcomer Academy and made friends from all different countries. Now I am happier because I have friends and I am better at English. I like art class very much, especially making drawings. I like to draw household items. One time I drew an “ashun”, which is something they use to in Somalia to boil water. I like sharing part of my culture with my class mates. I play volleyball at my high school. I started playing because I learned about volleyball in P. E. class and I liked it. Now I am making friends on the volleyball team. In the future I want to be a general doctor like my father. I want to learn about treating people. I will have to go to college. When I go to college, I want to stay in Louisville because I know people here.

Untitled (Poster Paints) – Nestor Niyitunga – Somalia, 10 th grade Jefferson County Public School My name is Nestor and I am eighteen years old. I’m from Burundi and I came to the United States in August 2007. I have been living in Louisville, Kentucky since I first arrived in the United States. When I arrived in America, I saw that it was very different from Burundi. There were people and cars everywhere. Everything is so expensive here! For example, people live in expensive apartments. In Burundi, I lived in a small house with my mom, dad, brothers and sisters. I like to play soccer with adults. I play at the Americana Community Center in Louisville a lot. But I do not play in winter because it was too cold! I want to go to college and be a doctor. I want to be the kind of doctor who helps people to solve their problems. For instance someone will come and talk to me about their problems and I will help them feel better.

Untitled (Paper Collage) - Brayan Serrano, El Salvador – High School Jefferson County Public School My name is Brayan and I am eighteen years old. I’m from El Salvador and I came to the United States in 2007. I lived in Texas for one month and then came to Louisville, Kentucky where I have lived for the last year. My family left El Salvador in a hurry because of the gang violence in El Salvador. Someone in a gang threatened me, so my family decided to move to America where it was safe. We were swimming across the river to America, when the border patrol arrested us and they put my family in jail in Texas for one month. Then my family was finally free to come to Louisville. Now we are in court so we can become American citizens. I hope I am a legal citizen soon. This collage is about my future hopes and dreams. My art work says it all! I made the collage last year in my art class at the ESL Newcomer Academy. I put pictures of doctors in there because I want to be a doctor. If I cannot be a doctor, I want to be an artist. I also want a special girl like the girl sticking her tongue out in the picture. I want a nice car, and I want to be able take vacations on a boat. Lastly, I want to have good friends in my life, and I want to go camping with them. When I am not in school, I go to work. I work at Mc. Donalds. I also take care of my two sisters. When I am not busy, I like to play soccer at Tom Sawyer Park.

Untitled (Paper Collage) - Cony Serrano, El Salvador Jefferson County Public School My name is Cony and I am seventeen years old. I’m from El Salvador and I came to the United States in 2006. I have been living in Louisville, Kentucky since I first arrived in the United States. I am Brayan Serrano’s sister, so I came with him to America. At first America was strange because it wasn’t my real home, but now I like it. I have many aunts and uncles who live here and I see them every day. We get together and eat pupusas, which are made of beans, cheese, and pork. I do not have many hobbies because I have a job. I work at Mc. Donald’s with my brother Brayan. We have fun together. We tell each other our secrets. I want to go to college in Kentucky and study English. I don’t know yet what I want to do after college.

Untitled (Paper Collage) - Abdirashid Idle Jefferson County Public School English as a Second Language Class My name is Abdirashid and I am fourteen years old. I am from Somalia and I came to the United States in March, 2006. Before we came to America, we lived in Cairo, in Egypt, for six years. I was eight when we came from Somalia. There were a lot of Somalis in Cairo. Me and my brothers played soccer with the kids there in the street. When I came to America, I was so afraid. Before we moved to Louisville, Kentucky, we were in Columbia, South Carolina. We saw a lady from Somalia, and she said, “Don’t worry. We’ll take you to a refugee house. ” We lived in South Carolina for four months. There weren’t many Somali people there. We knew this lady and a man who lived there for more than 30 years. He married an American woman and we played soccer with him sometimes. Then my mom’s friend helped us move to Louisville, Kentucky. I have two sisters and two brothers, so she helped us move everything. There are more Somalis here, so we moved from Columbia. It’s good here, and I like it. I made this art last spring in school. I make art when I feel good, and mostly I like to draw. I draw things in my house sometimes - or just anything. I also like music. I can sing and dance. I like Somali songs. I play soccer. I’m a midfielder, and I play with my older brothers a lot. We play on the Americana Community Center team, and we always win! I want to be a doctor and work with old people. I want to go back to where I come from and help people there.

The Iu-Mien Village Project, 2006 -2007 (Timber, grasses) United Iu-Mien Community, Sacramento, California Led by a team of senior Iu-Mien community leaders, the Iu-Mien youth came together to learn the craft of building a traditional Iu Mien village house and, at the same time, honor their own history, culture, and traditions. The younger generation worked side-byside with their elders to create a traditional village house and to mark a unique moment in time for the future generations of the. Iu Mien people. The United Iu-Mien Community, Inc. has made a documentary Past in the Present: Loz-Hnoi Yiem Ij Jaax, The Iu- Mien Village Project Documentary, which can be purchased from UIMC, Inc. , 6000 Lemon Hill Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95824.

Tuba (Oil Pastels) – Fred Tassy - Haiti, age 11 Milagro Center My name is Fred Tassy and I’m eleven years old. I live with my dad and brother and sister. My sister is sixteen and my brother is fourteen. I was born in Haiti on February 4 th 1996. I go to Banyon Creek Elementary School and I’m in the fifth grade. I love playing football and reading, especially books about food. My favorite thing about the Milagro Center is going to the camp and I love drawing cars.

Harvest Squash (Oil Pastels) – Fred Tassy - Haiti, age 11 Milagro Center My name is Fred Tassy and I’m eleven years old. I live with my dad and brother and sister. My sister is sixteen and my brother is fourteen. I was born in Haiti on February 4 th 1996. I go to Banyon Creek Elementary School and I’m in the fifth grade. I love playing football and reading, especially books about food. My favorite thing about the Milagro Center is going to the camp and I love drawing cars.

Leaves (Leaves and Tempura Paint on Canvas) – Debony Rodriguez - Mexico, age 6 Milagro Center My name is Debony Rodriguez and I am six years old. I was born in Mexico on July 17, 2001. I live with my dad, mom, cousin, and my threeyear old sister. I go to Orchard View Elementary School and I’m in the first grade. My favorite subject is math. I love to read and my favorite story is Cinderella. I also love to play basketball and play in the band. My favorite thing about art is painting and coloring and I love to play outside at the Milagro Center.

Untitled (Acrylic on Canvas) – Debony Rodriguez - Mexico, age 6 Milagro Center My name is Debony Rodriguez and I am six years old. I was born in Mexico on July 17, 2001. I live with my dad, mom, cousin, and my three-year old sister. I go to Orchard View Elementary School and I’m in the first grade. My favorite subject is math. I love to read and my favorite story is Cinderella. I also love to play basketball and play in the band. My favorite thing about art is painting and coloring and I love to play outside at the Milagro Center.

Guitar (Oil Pastels) – Jaime Rodrigo Gonzales Garcia - Mexico, age 10 Milagro Center My name is Jaime Rodrigo Gonzales Garcia. I was born in Guanajuato, Mexico on April 30, 2007. I am 10 years old and I live with my mom, my brother, who is 8 years old, and my pet mouse. I go to Orchard View Elementary and I’m in the 5 th grade. My favorite subject is math and my favorite sport is soccer. My hobbies are art and computers and my favorite book is Mijos. I love everything about art and my favorite things about the Milagro Center are Ms. Kate, Ms. Sarah and all my friends.

Abstract Design (Oil Pastels) – Jaime Rodrigo Gonzales Garcia - Mexico, age 10 Milagro Center My name is Jaime Rodrigo Gonzales Garcia. I was born in Guanajuato, Mexico on April 30, 2007. I am 10 years old and I live with my mom, my brother, who is 8 years old, and my pet mouse. I go to Orchard View Elementary and I’m in the 5 th grade. My favorite subject is math and my favorite sport is soccer. My hobbies are art and computers and my favorite book is Mijos. I love everything about art and my favorite things about the Milagro Center are Ms. Kate, Ms. Sarah and all my friends.

Harvest Squash (Oil Pastels) – Jaime Rodrigo Gonzales Garcia - Mexico, age 10 Milagro Center My name is Jaime Rodrigo Gonzales Garcia. I was born in Guanajuato, Mexico on April 30, 2007. I am 10 years old and I live with my mom, my brother, who is 8 years old, and my pet mouse. I go to Orchard View Elementary and I’m in the 5 th grade. My favorite subject is math and my favorite sport is soccer. My hobbies are art and computers and my favorite book is Mijos. I love everything about art and my favorite things about the Milagro Center are Ms. Kate, Ms. Sarah and all my friends.

Heart Candle Holder (Glazed Fired Clay) – Lizbeth Rodreguez - Mexico, age 10 Milagro Center My name is Lizbeth Rodreguez and I am ten years old. I was born in Mexico on June 10, 1997. I live with my mom, dad and my five year old sister. I’m in fifth grade at Orchard View Elementary School and my favorite subject is math. I like soccer and running is my favorite hobby. I also like to read the Bratz books. The thing I like about art is that I get to draw and my favorite thing about the Milagro Center is that I get to spend time with my friends.

Untitled (Acrylic on Canvas) – Katia Jean-Louis - Haiti, age 8 Milagro Center My name is Katia Jean-Louis and I’m eight years old. I was born in Haiti on April 23, 1999. I’m an only child and I live with my mom. I go to Pine Grove elementary school and I’m in 3 rd grade. My favorite subject is Art because it’s fun and exciting! I also like basketball and roller skating and I love books about Junie B. Jones. My favorite thing about the Milagro Center is that we get Christmas presents.

Muchas Lunas (Acrylic on Canvas) – Ricardo Gonzales - Mexico, age 8 Milagro Center My name is Ricardo Gonzales and I’m 8 years old. I was born in Mexico on April 26, 1999. I live with my mom and my brother, who is 10 years old. I go to Orchard View Elementary School and I’m in the 3 rd grade. My favorite subject is Math. Also, I love soccer and reading Spiderman books. My hobbies include playing games and painting. The best thing about art is all the colors! My favorite thing about the Milagro Center is music.

Untitled (Acrylic on Canvas) – Ricardo Gonzales - Mexico, age 8 Milagro Center My name is Ricardo Gonzales and I’m 8 years old. I was born in Mexico on April 26, 1999. I live with my mom and my brother, who is 10 years old. I go to Orchard View Elementary School and I’m in the 3 rd grade. My favorite subject is Math. Also, I love soccer and reading Spiderman books. My hobbies include playing games and painting. The best thing about art is all the colors! My favorite thing about the Milagro Center is music.

Three Purses (Fabrics and Fibers) – Khadija Mohammed - Somalia, age 16 Studio 2000 Khadija Mohammed is sixteen years old. Khadija is originally from Somalia and arrived in the United States in 2004. She and her family were resettled in Louisville, Kentucky, where they still live. Khadija’s hobbies include art, shopping, movies, fun parks and soccer. She plans to attend college and become a fashion designer and a pilot. Khadija is a spontaneous artist that loves color and stitch work. She made the featured purses at Studio 2000 in the summer of 2007.

Figure of a Woman (Plaster) – Luis Borroto - Cuba, age 16 Studio 2000 Luis Borroto is sixteen years old. Originally from Cuba, Luis and his family arrived in the United States on January 23, 2005 and resettled in Louisville, Kentucky, where they still live. Luis’ art is influenced by cubism, impressionism, realism, and the study of Ancient Greeks. His work is also influenced by his Uncle, who is a sculpture instructor in his country of origin. Luis enjoys any physical activities and also likes to spend time with people to make sure they feel comfortable. Since God is his number one priority, he also likes to attend church. Luis plans to attend college and major in business and art. His major dream is to become an internationally known artist/gallery owner. He is also interested in running an art studio so he can teach children. Luis made the featured artwork at Studio 2000 in the summer of 2007.

Orange Plate (High Fired Stoneware Clay with Over and Under Glazes) – Luis Borroto Cuba, age 16 Studio 2000 Luis Borroto is sixteen years old. Originally from Cuba, Luis and his family arrived in the United States on January 23, 2005 and resettled in Louisville, Kentucky, where they still live. Luis’ art is influenced by cubism, impressionism, realism, and the study of Ancient Greeks. His work is also influenced by his Uncle, who is a sculpture instructor in his country of origin. Luis enjoys any physical activities and also likes to spend time with people to make sure they feel comfortable. Since God is his number one priority, he also likes to attend church. Luis plans to attend college and major in business and art. His major dream is to become an internationally known artist/gallery owner. He is also interested in running an art studio so he can teach children. Luis made the featured artwork at Studio 2000 in the summer of 2007.

Awer Bul – Sudan, age 24 (http: //www. awerbul. net/) Virginia Commonwealth University Greetings, My name is Awer G. Bul, born in 1983 and raised in the bush. I say this because I grew up in the midst of the Sudanese civil war. I am one of the Lost Boys from Sudan and Art saved my life. Since we were denied to go to school, I did not know of any other ways I could tell my story except by using a universal language. I would define Art as a universal language of all the people around the world. I started Art when I was at least six years old, one year before the war came to my village. I was using the simplest of traditional art materials as I would burn cow dung to produce the color white, and grind charcoal to get black. My main canvas was just the mud wall in my house and my fingers were my paint brushes. When I was 7 years old I fled by myself; without my parents, to Uganda and then Kenya where I encountered similar instability and insecurity as in Sudan. I lived in Kenya for at least six years eating one meal a day and lacking health care. With how much I suffered, I did not know if I would survive the war. Growing up in Africa, I thought America was only for rich people and the chances of going there was impossible for someone who was poor like me. Because of my art skills though, I was one of the lucky boys who was given a chance that I didn’t think was possible – coming to America. Since I could not speak English I used my art skills to communicate my story to international aid workers in my refugee camp in Kenya. They blessed me with the opportunity to come to America because of my drawings, even though I had not previously qualified for relocation (only refugees who had arrived in 1992 were qualified for relocation at the time and I did not arrive in the camp until 1994. ) With the help and greatness of the United States, I was gracefully accepted here in my adopted country. I came to Richmond, VA in December 2000 and shortly thereafter started attending J. R. Tucker High School and working at the local grocery store - Food Lion. I am now a sophomore at Virginia Commonwealth University and a full-time Art student majoring in painting and printmaking with plans to double major in kinetic imaging. It is very important that people know that I believe helping others is a natural extension of myself like my Art. I am always working to improve myself, and through my Art I have been able to deal with traumas from the atrocities of war, separation from my family, the loss of my home and homeland, and the poor conditions of refugee camp life. When I do art I feel like I have let out all things that are in me. Art is a way for me to respond and to give. Regards, Awer G. Bul 2006

Caller of Bulls (Photograph) – Awer Bul – Sudan, age 24 Virginia Commonwealth University Awer Bul, is a young Sudanese artist currently completing a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts and Communication at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA. His Web site displays his paintings, photographs, and a short documentary titled “Living in Exile, ” which the artist states “deals with transformation, not only in mind and body, but also in location and spirit. ” His web site, showing more of his fine work, is http: //www. awerbul. net/.

Akuot (Photograph) – Awer Bul - Sudan, age 24 Virginia Commonwealth University Awer Bul, is a young Sudanese artist currently completing a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts and Communication at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA. His Web site displays his paintings, photographs, and a short documentary titled “Living in Exile, ” which the artist states “deals with transformation, not only in mind and body, but also in location and spirit. ” His web site, showing more of his fine work, is http: //www. awerbul. net/.

Cattle (oil on canvas) – Awer Bul – Sudan, age 24 Virginia Commonwealth University Awer Bul, is a young Sudanese artist currently completing a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts and Communication at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA. His Web site displays his paintings, photographs, and a short documentary titled “Living in Exile, ” which the artist states “deals with transformation, not only in mind and body, but also in location and spirit. ” His web site, showing more of his fine work, is http: //www. awerbul. net/.

Life of Refugee (oil on canvas) – Awer Bul – Sudan, age 24 Virginia Commonwealth University Awer Bul, is a young Sudanese artist currently completing a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts and Communication at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA. His Web site displays his paintings, photographs, and a short documentary titled “Living in Exile, ” which the artist states “deals with transformation, not only in mind and body, but also in location and spirit. ” His web site, showing more of his fine work, is http: //www. awerbul. net/.

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