“Billfolds and Wallets” by Tim Kiefer/via the Warehouse Arts District
By Greg C. Truax, Publisher
The Warehouse Arts District will host “El Sueño Americano”, a photographic fine art exhibit by internationally acclaimed artist Tom Kiefer, at the The ArtsXchange,
515 22nd St. S. in St. Petersburg.
Mr. Kiefer’s “El Sueño Americano” (The American Dream) exhibit, which opens on Oct. 8, is a “remarkable depiction of the choices undocumented migrants’ make when packing their most valuable items to journey across the border,” according to the arts district located in downtown St. Petersburg.
Artist Kiefer was a Customs and Border Patrol janitor when he found in trash bins highly personal discarded items, which he began to collect. The artists work began to unfold because he believed the “confiscated, discarded belongings were telling deeply personal and heartbreaking stories about the people crossing our borders.”
“I think, for me, to see these objects thrown away like trash, just felt wrong. The wallets with personal identification and credit cards still intact, the medications, toy cars, rosary beads, bibles, and other religious artifacts, they just seemed too important to be at the bottom of a dumpster,” the artist said.
The exhibit is composed of 64 small and four larger photographs of found objects, which offers a “glimpse into the humanity of all people looking for a better life,” according to the arts district.
Exhibit details:
El Sueño Americano by Tom Kiefer
Private Donor Preview Party – October 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Second Saturday ArtWalk Opening (FREE) – October 13 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Private WADA Members Only Viewing Party – October 25 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location:
The ArtsXchange
515 22nd St. S. ,St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Exhibit is open from October 8 to November 5, 2018
Gallery Hours: Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone Number: 727-826-7211
$10 ticket/Free for WADA Members