In March 2003, the sixth year of finding family stories culminates with an exhibition at four partner institutions of the works of eight artists chosen by representatives from these institutions: the Japanese American National Museum (the organizing institution), the California African American Museum, the Chinese American Museum and Self-Help Graphics & Art, Inc.

finding family stories brings together living artists, ethnic-specific institutions, and the diverse community of southern California. Family stories are the loose thematic link for the project, but the institutions are not only free, but encouraged to think broadly about what and who family is defined and by whom.

Unlike collaborative projects whose outcome may be a historically-based exhibition that aims to be (arguable) more objective, finding family stories allows individual artists to be the primary “voices” of the project. In this way, the partnering organizations invite the artists into a collaborative process through which they produce work that can speak to the complexity of families, communities, and the urban environment in which we live. The goal is to foster greater understanding among diverse communities through the interaction of artists and participating institutions, and outreach through educational and public programming.