Owensboro Sister Cities and Regions has partnered with the International Center of Owensboro for an art show at Kentucky Wesleyan College. The exhibits are focused around the theme of food security with artwork from nearly 30 local students who are refugees from various countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma) and Ukraine.
The gallery opens with a ceremony at 6 p.m. tonight. The event is free to attend, and the audience is able to vote for their “Best of Show.”
Laura Jones, Youth and Family Services Coordinator for the International Center, said they have been working with the students on the gallery for almost 2 months.
Jones said the theme of food security is one the majority of the students understand all too well.
“For these refugees especially, they have experienced a lot in their lives in coming to America. They have come here because of escaping from terrorism or war or violence, hunger and extreme poverty, too. So this has been a very impactful project for them,” Jones said.
The students were allowed to depict whatever food security meant to them — for example, Congolese students showcased a group of pizzas being made.
“A lot of our students, since they’ve been here … have discovered a lot of foods,” Jones said. “…So since they have come to America, they (have come to) love pizza and hamburgers and things like that.”
The gallery showcases art from refugees ages 9 to 20, but Jones said that students ages 13-18 will have a chance to enter an international competition through Sister Cities. The artists chosen will be announced tonight.
