Opening Reception at Embassy of the Slovak Republic

The exhibit Arrivals: What’s Left Behind, What Lies Ahead’s Opening Reception was held at the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Washington D.C. on Wednesday night. Though it was chilly and rainy outside, the show met a warm reception in the embassy as visitors, including Dickinson and University of Delaware alumni, gathered to experience the ever expanding exhibit. The show included new portraits that were captured in Slovakia in the fall of 2023 and cyanotypes that were created by participants in the PhotoVoice Workshops in Slovakia.

The evening began with a presentation from multiple speakers, including:

His Excellency Ambassador Radovan Javorčík
Creators Andrew Bale and Jon Cox
Daire Courtney, Political Counsellor, Embassy of Ireland, USA
Scott R. Righetti, Program Officer, EUR Fulbright Programs • Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs • U.S. Department of State
Dr. Palina Louangketh moderated the event

Afterwards, there was a showing of the documentary film, Faces of the Arrivals: What’s Left Behind, What Lies Ahead and Jennifer Blyth, Dickinson College’s Professor of Music, closed the presentation with a moving musical performance, “Black Earth” (excerpt) by Fazil Say.

Special Thanks

We would like to extend our most sincere thanks to:

All of the participants who shared and entrusted their stories with us.
The Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Washington, DC — His Excellency Ambassador Radovan Javorčík; Ms. Stanislava Buchtová, Cultural and Public Diplomacy Counselor; and the entire team at the embassy for hosting the exhibit
Our collaborators and supporters, especially Dr. Anna Slatinská from @filozoficka_fakulta_umb Faculty of Arts at Matej Bel University in Slovakia and Dr. Palina Louangketh.

We would also like to thank all of the visitors who came to the exhibit and carry the Arrivals stories with them to their families and communities. From Idaho to Slovakia to Kenya, and this year in Ireland, we are thrilled to create more exhibition and film screening events. Follow us on Instagram to learn more.