Soul Asylum
Jan 22–Mar 26, 2016
In partnership with Human Rights Watch
Albany Park Theater Project, Tania Bruguera, Díaz Lewis, Jenny Polak
Soul Asylum gives voice to the immigration justice movement through sound, painting, sculpture, performance, and installation. Each work is inspired by immigrant communities through their stories of struggle and celebrated victories. The artworks in the exhibition are participatory and invite the viewer to directly engage with gallery installations and ephemeral performances. With a focus on detention and deportation as it affects citizens and non-citizens alike, Soul Asylum artists work to provide structure and language for communities routinely kept silent by fear. The exhibition aims to advance the efforts of grassroots and national organizations to reform immigration policy in the US and to move the conversation to the front lines of civil rights discourse.
Public Programs
Exhibition Dates
Jan 22–Mar 26, 2016
Opening Reception
Jan 22, 2016, 5–8PM
Workshop
Jan 23–Mar 26, 2016, 1–4PM (Mondays); 2–4PM (Saturdays)
34,000 Pillows. Collaborative artists Díaz Lewis lead a pillow sewing workshop in the back galleries throughout the duration of the exhibition. Díaz Lewis will construct thousands of pillows made with the donated clothing of undocumented immigrants in an effort to work with the public to materialize the human impact of the US Congress imposed bed mandate for Immigration and Custom Enforcement.
Discussion
Feb 4, 2016, 12–1:30PM
From Aleppo to Chicago: Syrian Refugees and the Search for Peace. With Human Rights Watch Refugee Program Director Bill Frelick, Chicago-area Syrian activist Suzanne Sahloul, and Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights Executive Director Lawrence Benito as they discuss the humanitarian crisis facing Syrian refugees on multiple international and national front lines.
Discussion
Feb 17, 2016, 5:30–7PM
Locked Up in the Land of the Free: Exposing US Detention Centers. With on-the-ground Human Rights Watch US Program Researcher Grace Meng and Chicago-area immigration activists and artists as they discuss their interdisciplinary work to document and reform harsh, outdated and ineffective detention and deportation policies.
Performance
Mar 4, 2016, 6:30–8PM
Border Land. Albany Park Theater Project’s youth ensemble brings the gallery to life with site-responsive performances of real-life stories from Chicago’s immigrant justice movement. Adapted from APTP’s critically acclaimed play Home/Land, this unique performance wields stories of resilience in the face of the detention and deportation system.
Open House
Mar 5, 2016, 1–4PM
Amplify: Youth for Immigration Justice Open House. An afternoon of intergenerational activism to amplify our voices and celebrate diverse strategies for change. The afternoon will highlight local immigration activist organizations and feature remarks from an on-the-ground Human Rights Watch researcher, as well as food, song, art, and performance.
Performance
Mar 22, 2016, 12–1:30PM
The Distance Traveled. Discover “one of the true theatrical treasures of Chicago” (Chicago Sun-Times): Albany Park Theater Project’s youth ensemble animates the gallery with Border Land, a performance-installation inspired by real-life stories of resilience and resistance from Chicago’s immigrant justice movement.
Performance
Mar 24, 2016, 6:30–8:30PM
Border Land. Albany Park Theater Project’s youth ensemble brings the gallery to life with site-responsive performances of real-life stories from Chicago’s immigrant justice movement. Adapted from APTP’s critically acclaimed play Home/Land, this unique performance wields stories of resilience in the face of the detention and deportation system.
Press
ABC 7
CAN TV
Hyperallergic
Medill Reports: Jan 27, 2016; Mar 16, 2016
Partner
Founded in 1978, Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate human rights abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to secure justice in nearly 100 countries worldwide.
Soul Asylum, installation views at Weinberg/Newton Gallery, 2016
Soul Asylum
Jan 22–Mar 26, 2016
In partnership with Human Rights Watch
Albany Park Theater Project, Tania Bruguera, Díaz Lewis, Jenny Polak
Soul Asylum gives voice to the immigration justice movement through sound, painting, sculpture, performance, and installation. Each work is inspired by immigrant communities through their stories of struggle and celebrated victories. The artworks in the exhibition are participatory and invite the viewer to directly engage with gallery installations and ephemeral performances. With a focus on detention and deportation as it affects citizens and non-citizens alike, Soul Asylum artists work to provide structure and language for communities routinely kept silent by fear. The exhibition aims to advance the efforts of grassroots and national organizations to reform immigration policy in the US and to move the conversation to the front lines of civil rights discourse.
Public Programs
Exhibition Dates
Jan 22–Mar 26, 2016
Opening Reception
Jan 22, 2016, 5–8PM
Workshop
Jan 23–Mar 26, 2016, 1–4PM (Mondays); 2–4PM (Saturdays)
34,000 Pillows. Collaborative artists Díaz Lewis lead a pillow sewing workshop in the back galleries throughout the duration of the exhibition. Díaz Lewis will construct thousands of pillows made with the donated clothing of undocumented immigrants in an effort to work with the public to materialize the human impact of the US Congress imposed bed mandate for Immigration and Custom Enforcement.
Discussion
Feb 4, 2016, 12–1:30PM
From Aleppo to Chicago: Syrian Refugees and the Search for Peace. With Human Rights Watch Refugee Program Director Bill Frelick, Chicago-area Syrian activist Suzanne Sahloul, and Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights Executive Director Lawrence Benito as they discuss the humanitarian crisis facing Syrian refugees on multiple international and national front lines.
Discussion
Feb 17, 2016, 5:30–7PM
Locked Up in the Land of the Free: Exposing US Detention Centers. With on-the-ground Human Rights Watch US Program Researcher Grace Meng and Chicago-area immigration activists and artists as they discuss their interdisciplinary work to document and reform harsh, outdated and ineffective detention and deportation policies.
Performance
Mar 4, 2016, 6:30–8PM
Border Land. Albany Park Theater Project’s youth ensemble brings the gallery to life with site-responsive performances of real-life stories from Chicago’s immigrant justice movement. Adapted from APTP’s critically acclaimed play Home/Land, this unique performance wields stories of resilience in the face of the detention and deportation system.
Open House
Mar 5, 2016, 1–4PM
Amplify: Youth for Immigration Justice Open House. An afternoon of intergenerational activism to amplify our voices and celebrate diverse strategies for change. The afternoon will highlight local immigration activist organizations and feature remarks from an on-the-ground Human Rights Watch researcher, as well as food, song, art, and performance.
Performance
Mar 22, 2016, 12–1:30PM
The Distance Traveled. Discover “one of the true theatrical treasures of Chicago” (Chicago Sun-Times): Albany Park Theater Project’s youth ensemble animates the gallery with Border Land, a performance-installation inspired by real-life stories of resilience and resistance from Chicago’s immigrant justice movement.
Performance
Mar 24, 2016, 6:30–8:30PM
Border Land. Albany Park Theater Project’s youth ensemble brings the gallery to life with site-responsive performances of real-life stories from Chicago’s immigrant justice movement. Adapted from APTP’s critically acclaimed play Home/Land, this unique performance wields stories of resilience in the face of the detention and deportation system.
Press
ABC 7
CAN TV
Hyperallergic
Medill Reports: Jan 27, 2016; Mar 16, 2016
Partner
Founded in 1978, Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate human rights abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to secure justice in nearly 100 countries worldwide.
Soul Asylum, installation views at Weinberg/Newton Gallery, 2016