Seeing Refugees With Compassion and Empathy
“Unknowing” is among the portraits of refugees by Christopher Pouler at the Salisbury School in Salisbury, Conn., through Nov. 20. Photo from Christopher Pouler

Seeing Refugees With Compassion and Empathy

Artist Christopher Pouler examines the human face of the refugee crisis in his show, “Only Fortune Makes Us Different,” which is on display in the Tremaine Gallery at the Salisbury School until Nov. 20. There will be an artist reception on Friday, Sept. 30, from 5 to 7 p.m.

The gallery is located on the lower level of the Centennial Library and Humanities Building. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Only Fortune Makes Us Different” was originally part of a teaching program at the Berkshire School in Sheffield, Mass. Pouler gave a talk to students about the works on display in the school’s gallery, and then the students studied related topics in their art, humanities and language classes, using the art installation as a “classroom.” They also created their own projects that tied into the exhibit.

Salisbury School invited Pouler to bring the show to the campus of the all-male independent boarding school this autumn.

Pouler will partner with the school’s history department to tie the installation into the students’ Human Migration section of World History.

Pouler said of this project, “My goal is to inspire people to heighten their awareness of the topic and become more engaged. It includes 139 portraits of refugees, information and stories about them, interactive multi-media pieces and opportunities for visitors to get involved in helping refugees.”

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