Seeking art that tells one’s origin story

02/24/2026

Celebrating the humanity behind origin stories has the power to build connections and unite communities.

Kim Khánh Nguyễn-Nalpas, a SUNY Cortland Psychology Department visiting scholar and PRODiG+ Fellow, invites immigrants and children of immigrants to celebrate art they will create to do just that in a special, Dowd Fine Arts Center exhibition that opens on Saturday, Feb. 28.

The exhibition, titled "Revealing Roots: Origin Stories," will be on display from Saturday, Feb. 28, until Saturday, March 14.

The artists - SUNY Cortland students, faculty, staff and Cortland community members 18 and older - will then gather at a party to share their own origin stories from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11.

"In a time when divisions feel increasingly tense, I wanted to create a space where immigrants (and their contributions) can be celebrated," said Nguyễn-Nalpas said.

Nguyễn-Nalpas invites all campus and community members, whether they are an immigrant or the child of one, to share their origin stories through their own artwork, or a cherished artifact they bring for display or be music or a video that will be showcased virtually at the event.

Participants need not be artists, she said. Instead, they may work independently or partner with a SUNY Art and Art History Department student to bring their vision to life. Art supplies can be provided.

Contact Nguyễn-Nalpas to submit a piece, request to work with a student mentor or for more information.

Afterward, Nguyễn-Nalpas will design a website dedicated to this project so that the art pieces and the stories that people tell will live on beyond March 2026.

The project is supported by a SUNY Cortland Inclusive Incubator Network of Grants (SCIING) Program grant, Dowd Gallery and the Institutional Equity and Inclusion Office.

"Please let me know if you'd be interested in participating," Nguyễn-Nalpas said. "It would be an honor to have you!"