Feb. 16, 2005

Everyone who has lived in what is now Michigan has roots somewhere else.

Movers and Seekers: Michigan Immigrants and Migrants, a new special exhibit housed at the Michigan Historical Museum in downtown Lansing, looks takes a thoughtful look at the experiences, dreams and challenges of people who made Michigan their new home in the 20th century.  The exhibit opens to the public on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005.

Movers and Seekers celebrates the diversity of backgrounds in Michigan's communities.  "By understanding others' stories, we will come to better understand our own," said Martha Aladjem Climo, a member of the museum education staff and the Movers and Seekers exhibit team.

The exhibit features the stories of European, Middle Eastern, Mexican American, African American and Asian "movers and seekers."  Some arrived in Michigan seeking jobs or education; others came as adoptees, and still others were refugees escaping war or religious or ethnic persecution.  Their oral histories, three-dimensional objects, historic documents and vintage photographs help forge the connection between real-life people and Michigan's social history.

"There is so much in Movers and Seekers that is inspirational," said Phillip C. Kwiatkowski, director of the Michigan Historical Museum System, "that we've been inspired to offer a variety of avenues for visitors to celebrate this rich diversity with us.  We are very pleased to be partnering with community organizations to bring symposiums, documentaries and even an ethnic festival to the Michigan Historical Museum."

Exhibit events include:
 
- Post 9/11: Meet Michigan Movers and Seekers - Feb. 27, 2005 -
2 to 3 p.m.
A symposium bringing together people featured in the Movers and Seekers exhibit.

- "Daughter from Danang" - April 9, 2005 - 1 p.m.
A special showing of this award-winning film, sponsored by MSU Asian Studies Center.

- Beyond the Melting Pot: Asian Adoptees in the 21st Century - April 16, 2005 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A daylong symposium integrating contemporary research on international adoption and Asian American adoptees - including a screening of "First Person Plural," a film that explores international and trans-racial adoption over the past several decades.   Sponsored by MSU Asian Studies Center.

- Ethnic Fest - May 7, 2005 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
An ethnic festival featuring the music of Josh White Jr. and the Klezmer Fusion Band.  Ethnic dance, crafts, food and much more! 

In addition, plans are under way for a series of ethnic craft workshops for adults. And, children aged 9 through 12 will discover ethnic crafts at the museum's 2005 Summer Sizzles day camp.

Movers and Seekers: Michigan Immigrants and Migrants evolved out of a project that began in 1999 with a grant from the Ameritech Corporation. The exhibit is sponsored, in part, by the Esther and Seymour Padnos Fund of the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area, The Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation, the Friends of Michigan History and the Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Michigan Historical Museum is a year-round museum in downtown Lansing. Five exhibit levels - surrounding visitors with Michigan's past, from prehistoric times through the late 20th century - include an Upper Peninsula copper mine, the 1957 Detroit Auto Show and a one-room school.  The museum, the flagship of the Michigan Historical Museum System, is fully accredited by the American Association of Museums.

The Michigan Historical Museum is located inside the Michigan Library and Historical Center, 702 W. Kalamazoo St., two blocks west of the State Capitol in downtown Lansing.  The main entrance and visitor parking are located north of Kalamazoo Street, just east of M.L. King Boulevard.  Museum hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.  The museum is closed on official state holidays.  Admission and weekend parking are free.

For more information visit www.michiganhistory.org or call (517) 373-3559, TDD (517) 373-1592.

The Michigan Historical Museum System is a division of the Michigan Historical Center, an agency of the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries, whose mission is to enrich the quality of life for Michigan residents by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity.  The department also includes the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Library of Michigan, the Michigan Film Office and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.