02/24/2026
Celebrating the humanity behind origin stories has the power to build connections and unite communities.
Kim Khánh Nguyễn-Nalpas, a SUNY Cortland Psychology Department visiting scholar and PRODiG+ Fellow, invites immigrants and children of immigrants to celebrate art they will create to do just that in a special, Dowd Fine Arts Center exhibition that opens on Saturday, Feb. 28.
The exhibition, titled “Revealing Roots: Origin Stories,” will be on display until Saturday, March 14.
The artists — SUNY Cortland students, faculty, staff and Cortland community members 18 and older — will then gather at a party to share their own origin stories from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11.
“In a time when divisions feel increasingly tense, I wanted to create a space where immigrants (and their contributions) can be celebrated,” said Nguyễn-Nalpas said.
Nguyễn-Nalpas invites all campus and community members, whether they are an immigrant or the child of one, to share their origin stories through their own artwork, or a cherished artifact they bring for display. Music or a video submissions also may be showcased virtually at the event.
Participants need not be artists, she said. Instead, they may work independently or partner with a SUNY Art and Art History Department student to bring their vision to life. Art supplies can be provided.
Contact Nguyễn-Nalpas to submit a piece, request to work with a student mentor or for more information.
Afterward, Nguyễn-Nalpas will design a website dedicated to this project so that the art pieces and the stories that people tell will live on.
The project is supported by a SUNY Cortland Inclusive Incubator Network of Grants (SCIING) Program grant, Dowd Gallery and the Institutional Equity and Inclusion Office.
“Please let me know if you’d be interested in participating,” Nguyễn-Nalpas said. “It would be an honor to have you!”