Oceanic languages describe the progression of life as a journey into the future that we undertake while facing the past. As modern Pacific Islanders, the achievements and lessons of ancestors remain clearly in front of us – guiding, inspiring, and provoking – as we walk into the future. This community exhibition juxtaposes “traditional” cultural items and themes with “modern” expressions and interpretations by Utah Pacific Islanders that show how the past informs and inspires the present and future.
This exhibition consists of a collectively tie-dyed cloth, representing the Jordan river, and individual self-portraits that express aspects of each student's identity and their connection to water.