Creativity

By Shane Arman '10

Although January 2009 graduate Chan Vang was too young to remember his family's journey from a Thai refugee camp to Oshkosh, detailed family stories painted meaningful images in his mind. These images have been skillfully translated onto canvas.

Five oil paintings comprise Vang's "Welcome to America" series, which was a part of the 2009 Student Honors Exhibit at the University's Allen Priebe Gallery in the Arts and Communications Center. The paintings depict portraits of his family members' identification cards before they came to America from refugee camps during the Vietnam War.

Vang harnesses his deep appreciation for his Hmong culture and family by painting abstract images and adding details according to his feelings. The process is therapeutic, helping him confront and accept the past and focus on the future. Vang dreams of someday visiting his homeland of Thailand to capture real snapshots of his past, but until then he hopes his "Welcome to America" exhibit will educate and engage viewers about Hmong culture and history.