The university's ARTSwego program and performers American Patchwork Quartet hope to weave a vibrant story of diversity and unity at SUNY Oswego -- and are seeking stories from the campus community on family origins and/or migration.

The American Patchwork Quartet performance -- at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26 in Tyler Hall's Waterman Theatre -- is part of Inauguration Week for President Peter O. Nwosu.

Mirroring America’s cultural mosaic, American Patchwork Quartet (APQ) binds familiar American folks songs with jazz, country twang, West African hypnotics and East Asian ornamentation as a symbol of diversity and a testament to the notion that, from a collage of varied backgrounds, a coherent and beautiful whole can be fashioned.

As part of the performance, ARTSwego is working with APQ to coordinate a hashtag campaign, #AmericanPatchworkProject, and wants the campus to be a part of it. Artswego asks the community to post self-portraits or short videos and share their family origins or migrant stories on social media using the hashtag. These stories will be showcased before APQ’s performance, celebrating the unique collage of experiences that make up the SUNY Oswego community.

To complete this campaign, Artswego asks people to consider submitting a story responding to one or more of the following questions:

  • What music reminds you of home?
  • How does the music that you love represent who you are?
  • Does your family have any traditions that have been passed down from one generation to the next?
  • Where is home for you and how has that shaped who you are today?

To submit your story:

  • Post your video or your photo and story on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter using the hashtag #AmericanPatchworkProject.
  • If you’d prefer not to post on social media, you can email your story to Emily Junker, assistant director of arts programming, at emily.junker@oswego.edu. You also can send your story to ARTSwego privately on Facebook or Instagram.

For more information on this performance and other performing arts events, visit oswego.edu/artswego.

-- Submitted by ARTSwego