Minnesota Family Project

In July and August this summer, the Minnesota Family Project will travel across the state, sparking a state-wide dialogue on immigration. The Minnesota Family Project is a public art project with three parts: a photography exhibit, an interactive story-and portrait project, and an oral history of the West Side of St. Paul.

The Photos
Photography Exhibit: A view into the homes, churches and workplaces of eight Minnesota families taken by documentary photographer Quito Ziegler. The exhibit includes selections from “Tenomos un Sueño: Latino Youth and the American Dream,” a portrait project in Montgomery, Minnesota, a project documenting workers who were unjustly fired from their jobs as office cleaners, and “American Family: Stories behind the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride.”

The photos are displayed on the outside of a 24’ truck, which will travel to county fairs, community festivals, and churches across Minnesota.

When it's not traveling, the exhibit will be on 24-hour display at La Placita marketplace, next to El Burrito in the West Side of St. Paul.

The Stories
Where are we from?
What is your story? Where is your family from? Why did they come to Minnesota?

The inside of the truck will be converted into a moving portrait gallery of visitors to the exhibit. Visitors will have their portraits taken and instantly printed out. They will then be asked to contribute their families’ stories to the gallery walls. As the truck progresses across the state, the walls will become filled with stories of Minnesota’s families.

The West Side
Oral history of the West Side:
Given its rich history as an immigrant gateway community, the West Side of St. Paul has been chosen as a focal point of the project. Two interns are working to capture the stories of long-time neighborhood residents, who will then be photographed as part of the interactive exhibit. The interns are apprentices in WSCO’s Youth Apprenticeship Project, which brings together 25 youth leaders from the neighborhood. The entire class will participate in group activities with the truck exhibit, including conducting additional interviews. Kick-off and conclusion celebrations held at the Youth Farm’s La Placita Marketplace will emphasize the exhibit’s connection to the neighborhood.