Elizabeth, Anna and Lazarus Donato’s Transit Documents Issued in Sudan, 1997, is a Captivating Photograph in the “Africa to Maine” Current Exhibit at the Portland Public Library.

Sampling Coffee in Burundi, 2022 is the Title of This Photograph in the “Africa to Maine” Exhibit.

Reza Jalali, Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, Executive Director.

You are invited to attend the opening reception of an unique exhibit – “Africa to Maine” –  on Friday, April 7, 2023, at the Portland Public  Library, 5 Monument Square, from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm.  The reception will include performance and African food according to a newsletter provided by the Immigrant Welcome Center, producer of the exhibit.  Reza Jalali, is the Executive Director of the non-profit.

Forty-seven photographs of immigrants in their homelands are included in the exhibit that runs from March 24 – June 18, 2023 in the Lewis Gallery of the Portland Library.  The photographs are “personal family photographs taken by Mainers of African descent” according to the newsletter available at the exhibit.  Often African immigrants arrive in the US with little else but photographs of their lives in Africa. These enlarged and color photographs are deeply personal because they include weddings, family gatherings and other happy memories that are cherished.  Some of the photographs are posed and others are candid – some are even of museum quality according to the newsletter.

Two community conversations are scheduled based on the exhibit.  They are:  Friday, May 5, 2023 and on Friday, June 2. Both are at 6:00 pm