VOA常速英语:美国少年用美术描绘移民危机

Two young children, a boy and a girl, hold a sign that reads "BRING OUR MOM BACK". This painting called "Simple Immigration" is the work of an 18-year-old Dominick Cocozza, and has already made its way to the US capitol in Washington D.C. In 2019 Cocozza won in the annual art competition organized by the US congress. I concentrated on the United States immigration crisis, and that was something that I felt deserve an empathetic and legal solution. So when I saw kids that, you know, looked like me when I was younger, you know behind cages and in bars and stuff. It was really jaw-dropping. That was even an issue that even had to be discussed. I didn't…I couldn't believe that. That was a thing that was happening. Cocozza says his work was inspired by the family separation policy executed at the US Mexican border. His works did not go unnoticed. A Virginia congressman Donbayer noticed the paintings, and suddenly the basement of Cocozza's parents' home, where the young man worked was filled with journalists. It's supposed to be a representation of the sadness that these kids were feeling. It was really an emotional painting that I wanted to portray.

Dominick and his sister were born in Guatemala, but were adopted by an American family when they were still infants. Today the young artist lives in Arlington, just a few kilometers away from the US capitol. But despite all that, he never forgets about where he came from. It's a model of my family. I live in a primarily white community,so for me that was my personal difference, and so I have my sister and me who were adopted from Guatemala as infants, painted a different color than the rest of the rocks, and these rocks are supposed to represent different families in their communities. And then the water represents how communities are always changing and everything. This painting also won in a competition held by the Smithsonian, and was exhibited at the Hershbern museum in downtown D.C. For many years now, seasoned artist Gavin Glakas has been Dominicks mentor. He's a very impressive young man, and he has that combination of real drive to learn and improve and further his talent level. It'll be fascinating to see where he goes with. His work and career…he's obviously interested in those issues. Dominick has been painting since he was small. When he just started school he was already invited to take part in local exhibits. That was an indication that it wasn’t just his mom thinking he had some talent, there were other people saying "We'd like to take his work and show it in the county." And after a couple of years of that, I approached the school and said "Do you think that he may be gifted in visual arts?" And they said "We think so. Why don't you fill out the application and we'll go through the formal process?" In the fall of 2020 Dominick Cocozza will start his education at the Rhode Island School of Design, one of the oldest art schools in the country. Maxim Moscalco for VOA news Arlington Virginia