As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we reflect on how it has shaped the American experience. The ideals of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” have drawn millions of people to the United States. Since its founding in 1800, Erie County has welcomed generations of immigrants and refugees—from early arrivals from Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Poland to more recent neighbors from Bhutan, Syria, Iraq, Mexico, Afghanistan, China, Ukraine, and many other parts of the world. Their stories are woven into our community, shaping the spaces we share and the region we call home.   

Between Here and Elsewhere brings together contemporary artists whose work speaks to the experiences of New Americans. The featured artists are immigrants, refugees, recent citizens, and their children from Erie County and the broader region. Their creative practices are shaped by themes of memory, identity, belonging, and the ongoing work of redefining home.

These exhibitions explore how artists navigate the spaces between past and future, memory and imagination, and stability and uncertainty. Together, their works reveal how art can serve as both and anchor and a compass—preserving memory, adapting to impermanence, and navigating new experiences. Between Here and Elsewhere invites visitors to consider how migration continues to shape a more connected, compassionate, and vibrant community.