Welcoming Newcomers Through Photos – Exhibits Depict Influence of Immigrants in San Diego

Photo exhibits celebrating the city’s diverse immigrant communities will be unveiled in public spaces across San Diego to mark Immigrant Heritage Month, beginning Friday.

“The New Colossus” is a free exhibit, presented in displays across San Diego, including various libraries and City Hall. A “Meet the Artist” event, open to the public, is set for 2 p.m. Friday in the City Administration Building lobby for the inaugural viewing.

Artist and photographer John Raymond Mireles, named the municipal photo fellow through San Diego’s Exposure program, teamed up with city offices to create the series of exhibitions based on the city’s Welcoming San Diego strategic plan.

The shows are timed to June, named Immigrant Heritage Month, and Mireles, drawing inspiration from a poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty, titled the project, “The New Colossus: A Photographic Celebration of San Diego’s Immigrant Communities.”

With the photos, he aimed to capture the lives of immigrants through portraits taken in their everyday surroundings.

“The exhibition itself serves a similar purpose as the Statue of Liberty – to welcome immigrants into our homeland. Instead of molded copper, this series of installations uses photography – but its purpose remains the same,” said Mireles.

Mireles’ temporary exhibitions and his latest collection of photos represent the final work of his Exposure fellowship. This program, partially funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, runs through the fall of 2024.

The program, said Christine E. Jones, San Diego’s chief of civic art strategies, matches photographers with a city department or program to promote creativity, community involvement and new perspectives that support the city’s goals.

“As the first photo fellow, John has created ‘The New Colossus,’ a project that vividly captures the rich cultural diversity and distinctive immigrant stories, all through the lens of photographic art,” she said.

The exhibit lineup includes “Homage,” a tribute to immigration stories; “Duality,” which examines the immigrant experience; “The Golden Age,” a reflection on a traditional narrative of immigration to the U.S.; “In Their Own Words,” featuring personal stories; “Main Street USA,” depicting foreign-born individuals in work environments, and “Colonnade I” and “Colonnade II,” presenting larger-than-life portraits.

“This series of exhibitions is the culmination of (Mireles’) efforts to engage and build trust with both immigrant and host communities, and we look forward to welcoming all San Diegans to share in these immigrant stories,” said Matthew Griffith, program coordinator with the Office of Immigrant Affairs.

Branch libraries set to host “The New Colossus” exhibits include Rancho Peñasquitos,

City Heights/Weingart, College-Rolando, Valencia Park/Malcolm X and San Ysidro.