Artist, alumna presents visual discourse on immigration in WMU show

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—An artist and immigrant grappling with the questions of identity, patriotism and other issues brings her inner struggle to life in an exhibit at Western Michigan University.

The artwork, created by Alessandra Santos-Pye, also known as "Ally Pye," is on view through Friday, Oct. 17, in the second floor art gallery of the College of Health and Human Services. A reception is set for 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, in the gallery and is free and open to the public. Free parking is available in lot 104.

Existential, introspective themes

Santos-Pye describes herself as a human, wife, mother, therapist and artist. Her artwork consistently reflects both existential and introspective themes, and she finds excitement in expressing a flow of life events, thoughts, feelings and social themes through paint and mixed media. These tendencies are clear in the exhibit, titled "Accultured."

According to Santos-Pye, the works in the two-part "Accultured" exhibit portray her engagement "in an internal debate about identity, patriotism and my individual trajectory as a Brazilian immigrant." The five pieces in the assimilation segment of the exhibit, she says, "express much of my identity decay in the first 10 years of living in the United States." The integration portion of the exhibit consists of elements symbolizing the fulfillment of her integration process.

"I am pleased to have compiled a visual discourse that is both self-critical and self-affirming, as I share my work in joy and celebration of achieving a cultural identity that is fully and wonderfully integrated," she says.

Santos-Pye is a WMU alumna, having earned a bachelor's degree in art and psychology and a master's degree in counseling. She currently works as a therapist in Kalamazoo and Otsego and works regularly in her art studio at the Park Trades Center in Kalamazoo.

Exhibit times

People may view the exhibit from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with the exception of Saturdays, Sept. 20 and Oct. 4. For more information, contact Gay Walker at gay.walker@wmich.edu or (269) 387-3839.

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