12 May 2025
By Kyla Pigford
Contributing Writer
A new exhibit that not only celebrates the diversity in America but also places artists of diverse backgrounds front and center opened to the public on May 3 at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans.
The exhibit, “Refreshing America: Artists of America from Other Lands,” was curated by longtime art administrator Don Marshall and featured more than 80 artists, with roots ranging from Puerto Rico to Turkey.
“Refreshing America,” which is on display at the CAC in the second floor galleries until August 3, invites viewers to challenge their narrative of what it means to be American, through a creative lens, and explores the nation’s constantly evolving identity peered through the perspectives of global artists.
For Marshall, the timing of “Refreshing America” could not be better, especially due to the socio-political climate surrounding anti-immigrant rhetoric and legislation. As a curator for over 40 years, Marshall shared that over the past few years, he began noticing how many artists in New Orleans’ creative circles had immigrated from abroad. As someone who loves patterns and lists, he started informally tracking them first in tens, then twenties, then more.
“It just kept growing and growing,” Marshall said. “Everywhere I turned, there was someone new.” This quiet realization became the foundation for “Refreshing America’s” visual acknowledgment of the immigrant artists who help define not just New Orleans, but the country itself.
“Well, I think it’s time we stop and think of our history, our country’s history, and our city’s history, and realize that immigrants made this country and make it great. And I think now that there’s such a pushback on immigrants in our country that should never have happened,” Marshall said.
Inspired by experiences around the world with artists from many diverse backgrounds, Marshall, who served as executive director of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation until May 2024, said this encouraged his view on the importance of recognizing the impact of immigrants within the country, especially with the diverse fabric of New Orleans artists.
“I’m hoping to sort of at least open up discussion and for people to think about how important this is to our country,” he said.
The Contemporary Arts Center sees the exhibit as more than a singular moment.
Coming directly after the debut of Ron Bechet’s solo exhibition,” From the Storms of Our Souls: The Art of Ron Bechet,” which is on view in the downstairs galleries until October 4, the CAC has leaned intentionally into showcasing work that centers identity, origin and place.
“I find it exciting,” said Bechet, “to actually see that we have colleagues who are artists, who are actually making work about their condition here in the Americas and how they came to become part of this country.”
While the exhibit aimed to celebrate cultural differences, it also sparked an emotion too familiar among immigrants around the world. For many of the artists, the exhibition was not just about celebration, but also bridging the community through displacement, foreignness and shared experience.
“It makes it more closer to home. I think when two people who are not from America meet each other, the most exciting part is that you assume that they know a part of your story,” said artist Deniz Türkoğlu Hewes from İstanbul, Turkey.
“They know that even though you’re not from the same country, maybe not the same socioeconomic background, you still know that they understand to a certain degree,” Hewes said.
While she describes this feeling of community as created, there’s a common emotion of underlying tension, which serves as a reminder that America is not always welcoming, accepting, or honoring of the role immigrants have played in the building and preservation of the country.
“It’s just part of my being, you know I’m an outsider, it’s like quicksand in passing,” observed artist Arturo Perez Saad. “So I pass but once my name comes up, all the flags come up. Yeah, exclusion is different here.”
Perez Saad’s words highlight the intricacies of identity within America, where appearance might allow one to move freely, but deeper cultural or ethnic markers can trigger exclusion.
And yet, he remains firm in his message: “So refreshing, America is like, we’re here.” His declaration acts as both a celebration and a challenge; an affirmation that immigrant voices are not just present but essential to American art, history and future.
“I think we under-recognize the importance and strength of our visual arts community. We have so many, many, many great artists here, and this show is sort of a first step in trying to expose how great the art is in this city and to get a better support system for our artists,” Marshall added.
The Contemporary Arts Center, located at 900 Camp Street in New Orleans Arts Warehouse District is open Wednesday through Monday from 11 to 5 p.m. Louisiana residents can get free entry to the CAC on Sundays by giving their Louisiana ZIP codes to the front desk when entering until the end of June through the Helis Foundations’s Art For All program.
This article originally published in the May 12, 2025 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.