Thursday, September 23, 2010

Hidden in Plain Sight

World Class Basque Exhibit Opens Friday Boise's own Basque Museum and Cultural Center, a bit of a hidden gem in Idaho's and the Northwest's cultural life, opens a marvelous new exhibit on Friday at the Museum on Boise's historic Basque Block downtown. The exhibit - developed by the Museum - premiered earlier this year at Ellis Island in New York, home of the National Memorial to the American immigration experience. I had a chance to see the exhibit there and can attest to its quality. You'll be fascinated by the breath and depth of Basque influence in the world from politics to sports, from art to business. The exhibit opens after a dinner and program on the Basque Block Friday. Check out the website of the Museum for more information. There is also a website devoted to the exhibit. Reporter Scott Ki of Boise State Public Radio also did a nice piece on the exhibit. One thing the exhibit does particularly well - this is worth remembering as political campaigns slash and burn around the immigration issue - is to remind us that America is a nation of immigrants. In his 1958 book - A Nation of Immigrants - John Kennedy said: "Immigration policy should be generous; it should be fair; it should be flexible. With such a policy we can turn to the world, and to our own past, with clean hands and a clear conscience." The Basque experience helps us reflect on the wisdom of Kennedy's words. Make time to go see the exhibit. You won't be sorry.