This major exhibition of contemporary art explores the American experience of immigration, migration and the American Dream and examines the complex histories and cultural identities that define and enrich contemporary America.

“I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” is the closing line of Emma Lazarus’s poem engraved on the Statue of Liberty’s plaque welcoming newcomers to the U.S. The sonnet includes the iconic lines “Give me your tired, your poor / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”. How that language is understood in today’s political and social climate is as varied as the diverse works of art on view.

The Golden Door will illuminate personal and collective experience while also exploring the concept of displacement, the deep divides of our history as a nation, and the enduring idea of the American dream.

This exhibition is made possible by a grant from CT Humanities.

View Exhibition Didactics

Curators

Robin Jaffee Frank, Ph.D.

Dr. Robin Jaffee Frank conceived and planned The Golden Door exhibition, having formerly served as chief curator at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, CT and curator at the... More »
Dr. Robin Jaffee Frank conceived and planned The Golden Door exhibition, having formerly served as chief curator at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, CT and curator at the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT... Less »

Barbara O’Brien

For nearly three decades O’Brien’s curatorial practice have focused on the art and artists of our time. She was Executive Director of the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas... More »
For nearly three decades O’Brien’s curatorial practice have focused on the art and artists of our time. She was Executive Director of the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, Missouri from 2012 – 2017, after serving as chief curator and director of exhibitions since 2009. In 2018 and 2019, she was a consulting curator for the Housatonic Museum of Art in Bridgeport, CT. From 2003-2006 O’Brien was editor-in-chief of Art New England magazine. She earned an MFA from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and in 2006 was awarded the RISD national alumni award for professional achievement. O’Brien is an elected member of AICA-USA, the international organization of art critics.... Less »

Roger Mudre

Gallery Director, Silvermine Arts Center, New Canaan, CT
Gallery Director, Silvermine Arts Center, New Canaan, CT... Less »
Exhibiting Artists
Downtown

Lois Bielefeld & Nirmal Raja

Downtown
Color Photograph (archival pigment print)
44 x 60 in
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Sikh Temple of Wisconsin

Lois Bielefeld & Nirmal Raja

Sikh Temple of Wisconsin
Color Photograph (archival pigment print)
44 x 60 in
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Milwaukee Women's March

Lois Bielefeld & Nirmal Raja

Milwaukee Women's March
Color Photograph (archival pigment print)
44 x 60 in
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Ode to Earth I-VI

Eric Chiang

Ode to Earth I-VI
Oil on canvas
72 x 108 in
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History Repeats Itself

Susan Clinard

History Repeats Itself
Wood, ceramic, acrylic
108 x 84 x 30 in
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Damascene Athan Series #3

Mohamad Hafez

Damascene Athan Series #3
Mixed media, plaster, pigment, found objects
34 x 24 x 8 in
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Baggage # 3

Mohamad Hafez

Baggage # 3
Plaster, Paint, Antique Suitcase, Found Objects, Rusted Metal, Wood, Persian Carpet, Dried Plants
24 x 12 x 8 in
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Baggage # 7

Mohamad Hafez

Baggage # 7
Plaster, Paint, Antique Suitcase, Found Objects, Rusted Metal, Wood, Dried Plants
15 x 26 x 22 in
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Walt and Maybe Shelia

Ana Maria Hernando

Walt and Maybe Shelia
Embroidered fabric, velvet, felted paper, cotton, giclee on wood, napkin, wallpaper, pins, plastic sponge, dried flowers, fabric, vellum, acrylics on hard book cover
51 x 25 x 2 in
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Bud

Ana Maria Hernando

Bud
Felted paper, printmaking inks on paper, paint on tin, cotton, giclee on wood, napkin, pins
47 x 27 x 1.5 in
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David

Ana Maria Hernando

David
Velvet, paint on paper, resin, paint on tin, giclee on wood, linen, cotton, wallpaper, pins
50 x 29 x 1.5 in
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Laura

Ana Maria Hernando

Laura
Paper, paint, giclee on wood, resin, paint on wood, napkin with inks, wallpaper, pins, tape
49 x 21 x 1.5 in
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Verbs of Sorrow

Ana Maria Hernando

Verbs of Sorrow
Velvet, paint on paper, felted paper, giclee on wood, napkin, wool, wallpaper, pins
79 x 45 x 21 in
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Barbara

Ana Maria Hernando

Barbara
Embroidered fabric, velvet, felted paper, watercolor on paper, resin, paint on tin, cotton, giclee on wood, napkin, wallpaper, pins
52 x 86 x 1.5 in
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Future Seen

Shantell Martin

Future Seen
Ink on canvas. Signed on front, bottom right hand side.
60 x 72 in
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mattoon 5

Debra Priestly

mattoon 5
Acrylic, photo transfer, ink, resin on wood
80 x 24 in
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mattoon 15

Debra Priestly

mattoon 15
Ink, acrylic, graphite, absorbent ground on birch
36 x 36 x 2 in
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mattoon 16

Debra Priestly

mattoon 16
Ink, acrylic, graphite, absorbent ground on birch
36 x 36 x 2 in
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The New Colossus

Rick Shaefer

The New Colossus
Charcoal on prepared acetate
116 x 180 in
NFS
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American Dream

Sofie Swann

American Dream
Acrylic on canvas
48 x 60 in
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Flight to Nowhere

Sofie Swann

Flight to Nowhere
Acrylic and Persian tea on canvas
48 x 60 in
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Wall Art

Taro Takizawa

Wall Art
Vinyl wall installation, site specific
varied in
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Floor Art

Taro Takizawa

Floor Art
Relief print trimmed and installed on floor, site specific
varied in
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Catalog
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