A wide-eyed teenage girl fastens a swim cap behind her ear, a couple holds hands in an alleyway, and a football player hopes to make his parents proud.
The young subjects of these photographs are in many ways typically adolescent ““ a variance of youthful complexions revealing young love, hopes and dreams. However, the youth of these portraits share not only their youth, but a common struggle ““ an immigrant’s pursuit of an American identity.
“Becoming American: Teenagers and Immigration,” an exhibition by documentary photographer Barbara Beirne and organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) will be on display at the Skirball Cultural Center from Oct. 17 to Jan. 25.
After photographing Kosovian refugees, Beirne was inspired to undertake the ambitious project of photographing and interviewing first generation teenage immigrants from as many countries as possible.
“I met with Kosovian refugees held at Fort Dix and I realized how little I knew about the refugee experience. They had just a bag or two filled with everything they owned and that was all,” Beirne said.
“I spoke to teenagers the most, and I kept wondering how they would ever make the necessary adjustments … I realized afterwards as I thought about them that it was a fascinating journey and I wanted to know more about it.”
Beirne traveled to schools with large immigrant populations to find teenage subjects willing to share their personal experiences. Other than the obstacle of attaining parental consent for subjects, Beirne was taken aback by teenagers’ enthusiasm to share their stories, even if they needed help writing them in English.
“It was unexpected. Having had four teenagers myself, I thought teenagers would be hesitant to participate, but these teenagers were eager,” Beirne said, “They were excited to express themselves and they wanted Americans to understand what they had been through.”
The exhibit features 59 teenagers from 12 different states in black and white photographs, shot in locations of their choosing. Locations range from a seaside view of Ellis Island to a Hindu temple to a public swimming pool.
The varied portrait settings illustrate the diversity of immigrant life, and also the variety of America life as a culture of immigrants.
“I wanted the subjects to be very comfortable. They chose where they were photographed, what they wore, and what they said about their experiences in America,” Beirne said, “I wanted to have the subjects as involved as possible and I did not want them to feel like I was in control.”
The multitude of experiences and emotions of teenage immigrants are expressed through their own words, as each subject composed their own caption.
Some wrote poems, others relayed their family histories, but all subjects were clearly affected by the process of immigration, acculturation, and the resulting feelings of fulfillment or disillusionment with mythologized American life.
“I was surprised that there were so many homeless people living in this city. How could this happen in America?” asks 17-year-old Guinea native Mawa Fofana in her photograph’s caption.
Shek Li, an 18-year-old immigrant from China calls the adjustment to American life “bittersweet,” a sentiment confirmed by her mournful eyes in the portrait.
A smiling Maritza Ortiz expresses happiness at leaving impoverished El Salvador for “the land of the free.”
It is the combination of the images and words of teenage subjects that makes the exhibition a poignant experience.
The candid impressions of youth disassemble the complicated meaning of the “American” label, and demonstrate the ongoing evolution of the term.
“Becoming American” demonstrates the survival of the American dream, as immigrants of all ages continue to influence the identity of the United States.
“People usually don’t ask teenagers their opinions,” Beirne said, “This exhibit gives them an opportunity to finally express themselves and to be understood.”
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