a sense of belonging

The Sense of Belonging exhibition currently on display at the Bonington Gallery in England's East Midlands collects work by artists now local to the region who in the past had to leave their countries of birth to escape war or seek asylum.  Much of the art in the show references the dual consciousness of the refugee experience, the "in between" of the piece pictured here.  The show grew out of the work being done by Making the Connections, a group that is interested in how art and culture can help new arrivals in the East Midlands by fostering a sense of community and also educating the general public about immigrant issues.  The very cool Beyond Borders Web site is related to Making the Connections and provides a virtual space for artists in the region to meet and collaborate.  For more images from the exhibition please click through to the online gallery here.