SAN DIEGO—Join Karen Organization for an evening dedicated to honoring the rich experiences and history of San Diego’s local refugee community. This special event will feature an exhibition showcasing their stories through art installations, oral storytelling, live performances, and immersive visual displays.
When: Friday, June 21, 2024, 1–4 PM
Where: Mingei International Museum, Balboa Park, Plaza de Panama, 1439 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
Questions? Email Nao Kabashima, Executive Director, Karen Organization of San Diego, nao@karensandiego.org
More about the event: This event serves a dual purpose: it is both an informational session for those with little to no knowledge of the ethnic groups in Burma and a nostalgic memory capsule for the Karen and other refugee communities from Burma. The cultural exhibition will narrate the story of the people from Burma through four distinct mediums. First, a display of cultural artifacts will include clothes from various ethnic groups, traditional weaving tools, a water buffalo horn, a drum, and a harp – all items of symbolic importance to these communities. Additionally, an art exhibit will feature pieces created by Karen youth. Each art piece visually represents the experiences recounted by elders and parents before and after the war. An incomplete timeline will visually depict the history of the Karen people, with noticeable gaps due to the loss of historical records and knowledge because of the long-lasting civil war. This timeline will be supplemented with stories collected from community members through oral history projects. This visual will showcase our efforts to reclaim our voice and include our experiences in the historical narrative. The final component will be a play compiled from the stories of the local community. It highlights common themes such as resilience, perseverance, family and community bonds, and the pursuit of hope and new beginnings. Each part of the exhibit aims to revive and preserve the pieces of our history that we hold dear and wish to pass on to future generations.
