Currently in the MPA Gallery and through Oct. 11th is a painting by Minneapolis artist Susan Armington called “Geography of Home."

“Geography of Home” is a map painting of the Twin Cities made out of the words and languages of the people who live there.  It tells stories in Somali, English, Russian, Hmong, Tibetan, Cambodian, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, and 20 other languages about what it is like to live there and whether or not the Twin Cities feels like “home” to residents.  
 

Supported by a 2004 Minneapolis State Arts Board grant, Armington interviewed 49 residents from 29 language backgrounds about their feelings and experiences. Then she collaged and painted bits of their writings across the map, mixing writings by residents throughout the cities.  The original writings, with English translations, accompany the map in a laminated book.