To many, the District of Columbia is known for its magnetic pull home; however, it is not solely a place inhabited by those who were born or voluntarily moved here. It is also occupied by those who were forced to be here, making the city an inherently diasporic space. Those who make up this latter group are often rendered silent when archiving DC’s history. Despite this, diaspora communities have helped mold the city into what it is today, pushing us to take note of the archival voids that are left unfilled to this day. 

To honor these communities and their own stories, artists offer social commentary on migration through various mediums. Regardless of where the featured artists’ lineages begin, they all meet and come into dialogue with one another through this exhibition and along DC’s permeable borders.

Curator Atiya Dorsey not only presents an exhibition that serves as a space for us all to co-exist along these borders, but she also actively encourages featured artists to help us move beyond them.