"Where Memory Becomes Land Exhibition" Public Reception

INAUGURAL AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY CURATION FELLOWS PRESENT 'WHERE MEMORY BECOMES LAND' EXHIBITION EXPLORES MIGRATION, IDENTITY, AND CULTURAL INHERITANCE THROUGH THE WORK OF NINE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS AUSTIN, Texas — Emerging curators Cathy Le, Paola Ward, Asami Robledo-Allen Yamamoto, and Corri Greene will debut their culminating exhibition, Where Memory Becomes Land, at Austin Public Library's Central Library Gallery this summer. The exhibition opens July 16 and runs through September 13, 2026, with a public reception on July 26 from 1–4 p.m. Where Memory Becomes Land is the final project of the inaugural _OFCOLOR x Austin Public Library Curation Fellowship, a seven-month program designed to support emerging and community-based curators in developing exhibitions, public programs, and creative projects that connect art and audiences in meaningful ways. The fellowship is made possible in part through support from The Library Foundation, the official fundraising partner of Austin Public Library. Presented in partnership with local nonprofit arts organization _OFCOLOR and Austin Public Library, the exhibition reflects the fellows' collaborative curatorial vision and explores how memory, migration, and cultural inheritance shape our understanding of identity, place, and belonging. Featuring work by Alejandra Almuelle, Lys Santamaria, Sandra Fernandez, Rewon Shimray, Rakhee Jain Desai, Raul Rodriguez, Liza Zaldivar Salazar, Jo Kim, and Nashelle Williams, the exhibition brings together artists who engage lived experience, (im)migration, and cultural memory through diverse materials and processes. Using fiber, clay, textiles, photography, and layered forms, the featured works trace how stories travel across borders and take shape in new environments. The pieces hold traces of personal and collective histories, grounding memory in physical form while inviting viewers to consider evolving ideas of home, connection, and community. Shaped by multiple lived perspectives, the exhibition is grounded in care, openness, and critical inquiry. It positions the library as a shared public space for reflection, encounter, and exchange, where art can foster dialogue and deeper understanding. Many of the featured artists come from historically underrepresented backgrounds and examine how boundaries are created and maintained while asking who is seen, who is heard, and who has access. Together, their work encourages audiences to engage with questions of identity, belonging, and cultural continuity. EXHIBITION DETAILS Where Memory Becomes Land Curated by: Cathy Le, Paola Ward, Asami Robledo-Allen Yamamoto, and Corri Greene Location: Central Library Gallery, 2nd Floor Southwest, 710 W. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, TX Dates: July 16 – September 13, 2026 Public Reception: July 26, 2026 | 1–4 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. About the _OFCOLOR x Austin Public Library Curation Fellowship The _OFCOLOR x Austin Public Library Curation Fellowship is a seven-month professional development program that supports emerging and community-based curators in gaining hands-on experience developing exhibitions and public-facing arts programming. Through mentorship, collaboration, and curatorial practice, fellows explore new ways of connecting artists, institutions, and communities. The fellowship is made possible in part through support from The Library Foundation, whose investment helps expand access to arts and culture through Austin Public Library while creating opportunities for emerging curators to develop their practice and engage the community.