Over the course of the two-days, each organization was allotted time to present on relevant immigration projects, such as exhibits and public programs, that take place at their museum. I enjoyed learning how each institution adresses this important, and often controversial, topic. Although we’ve worked with some of these museums in the past, I think new and deeper collaboration will result from partnering on this initiative.

One important outcome of the meeting was to establish collaborative programming on immigration for the near future. The proposed ideas are being synthesized by project staff and will be re-distributed to the partners soon. I suspect a pilot program will launch sometime later this year, so keep an ear to the ground. In addition, the Smithsonian has bigger plans for the future that may include major programs and exhibits (perhaps in 2015/16).

I applaud the Smithsonian for addressing such an important and timely topic. Indeed, I think much is to be gained through this initiative and I suspect it will play an important role in helping to re-examine what it means to be American in the 21st century. If you’re interested in staying abreast of new developments with the project, then I recommend you “like” the Americans All: The Immigration/Migration Initiative Facebook page.

Here’s a copy of the presentation I delivered on Wednesday, January 25:

Here’s a copy of the presentation I delivered early today. If you have comments or questions, please feel free to leave a remark below or contact me through LinkedIn.

DIWAN unites Arab American artists, scholars and performers representing myriad academic fields and artistic genres. The conference affords a safe space to discuss topics and issues affecting the community of artists while also fostering an open environment conducive to networking and community building. Most importantly, the presentations shed light on what’s new in the world of Arab American art while creating a greater awareness for the artists and their artwork.

I’ve been involved with DIWAN since it’s inception. I’ve had the honor and pleasure of moderating a panel at all four conferences. This year I will be moderating the session, The Stories We Tell: Arab Americans convey their truth through emerging mediums of installation art, film and the graphic novel. I’m looking forward to working with a great group of presenters and I expect nothing less than another inspiring and informative conference.

It’s really quite amazing how big we’ve grown this grassroots conference in five short years. Working on this project is definitely one of the highlights of my job at the AANM. If you’re in New York this weekend (March 25-26), be sure to stop by the CUNY Graduate Center, which is where the conference will be taking place. Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention it’s FREE. Yes, we are all about being open and accessible to the public.

Also, be sure to check out the schedule and peep some photos from the 2007 and 2009 conferences. We’ve also published the audio and video of sessions from the 2009 conference on our iTunes U site. Hope to see you there this weekend!

The regional town hall at the AANM brought together four local schools and two veterans of the Freedom Rides. Prior to their visit to the Museum, the students watched advance copies of the new documentary Freedom Riders by filmmaker Stanley Nelson (American Experience/PBS). Today the students electronically joined others from across the country for the National Youth Summit. Many renowned activists participated in the program and their message of justice and equality through nonviolent protest inspired us all.

Here are some photos I took of the program at the AANM. The pictures show Reverend Richard Gleason on the left and Reverend Gordon Negen on the right. Although their experiences participating in the Freedom Rides were quite different, both shared inspiring and heartfelt stories.

As an aside, you can catch an advance screening of the new documentary tomorrow evening at the AANM. Freedom Riders will not premier on PBS until May. Additionally, we will have a Q&A session following the screening with Reverend Richard Gleason and John Hardy. Be sure to join us!

As one might expect, the seventeen participating institutions rank among the world’s finest art museums. I hope Google opens this project up to more museums in the near future.

Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night, zoomed in, on Google's new Art Project

If dissension arises over the presentation of a piece, then rather than remove it, that is the very moment to initiate conversation so that all perceptions may be heard in an effort to create greater awareness and understanding.

Well said. I’m pleased to read that the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden has broken ranks within the Smithsonian Institution to denounce the removal of a video by David Wojnarowicz from the Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery. Read An Open Letter from the Board of Trustees.

The nine books that comprise the collection are:

• The Radical Museum: democracy, dialogue & debate
• Museums and Meaning: idiosyncrasy, individuality and identity
• Meaning Making & Storytelling: engaging visitors, empowering discovery and igniting debate
• Museums Fighting Human Rights
• Greener Museums: sustainability, society and public engagement
• Museums Forward: social media, broadcasting and the web
• Museum Learning: knowledge, ideas and inspiration
• Interactive Galleries: digital technology, handheld interpretation and new media
• Museum Public: audience development, brand identity and marketing strategies

The chapter I contributed, Connecting Communities: Dispelling Stereotypes and Building Community History, will be featured in The Radical Museum: democracy, dialogue & debate, which will be published in January 2011. To learn more about the books and to order your copy, visit Museum Identity.

Library of Congress

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-DIG-ggbain-19028] George Grantham Bain Collection

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-DIG-ggbain-19026] George Grantham Bain Collection

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-DIG-ggbain-22835] George Grantham Bain Collection

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-DIG-ggbain-23419] George Grantham Bain Collection

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-DIG-ggbain-22819] George Grantham Bain Collection

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-DIG-ggbain-19029] George Grantham Bain Collection

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-DIG-ggbain-22818] George Grantham Bain Collection

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-DIG-ggbain-19027] George Grantham Bain Collection

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-DIG-ggbain-22820] George Grantham Bain Collection

George Eastman House

George Eastman House [77:0177:0095, Syrian Arab at Ellis Island] Lewis W. Hine – Ellis Island

New York Public Library (NYPL) Digital Gallery

NYPL Digital Gallery [482835, Lebanon Restaurant (Syrian), 88 Washington Street, Manhattan. (August 12, 1936)] Changing New York: Photographs by Berenice Abbott, 1935-1938