This fall, Providence CityArts for Youth presents an exhibition of photography and multi-media by local artist Nicole Tammelleo and the youth of Providence’s Burundian community. The three-week long exhibition documenting the stories of Burundian refugees as they adapt to life in the United States will be complemented by an artist’s talk and reception at which Tammelleo will discuss her artistic and social work with immigrants in Providence. Several refugees from Burundi will speak as well about their experiences navigating the American legal, educational and social systems.

About Burundi
The central African nation of Burundi has been in a state of civil war for over 30 years. More than one million people have been displaced from their homes due to the enduring conflict characterized by extreme ethnic violence between the Hutu and Tutsi, seven coup d’etats and numerous unsuccessful attempts at peace agreements and cease-fires staged by the international community. Despite the recent repatriation of almost half a million Burundian refugees, living conditions in Burundi remain unsafe and unstable.

While hundreds of thousands of Burundians sought refuge in neighboring Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) and Rwanda, the United States has taken in approximately ten thousand Burundian refugees for resettlement since 2006. Over 150 of those refugees currently reside in Providence as placed by the United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. To Become American is the photographic manifestation of their life stories.

About the Artist
Nicole Tammelleo is a native of Rhode Island whose work has been exhibited worldwide from Fort Collins, Colorado, to St. Petersburg, Russia. She is a practicing artist and educator, splitting her time between Rhode Island and New York City. She has received grants from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council to pursue projects that use the art of photography and imagemaking as a means to explore ethnographic and anthropological issues.

This work was made possible by a grant from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities.

Visiting the CityArts/Highlander Gallery
The CityArts/Highlander Gallery displays a changing rotation of exhibits year round highlighting the work of both students and local artists. It is located in the newly renovated Berkander Building in the center of culturally vibrant South Providence.

Address:
891 Broad Street
Providence, RI 02907
map

Hours:
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
closed on weekends and federal holidays

Admission:
Free

For more information, contact Genise.