Sikh History and Life in California – PAHS Press Release

Re: Sikh History and Life in California

What: Photography/Video Exhibit, "Sikh History and Life in California"

Where: Sutter County Library, 750 Forbes Avenue, Yuba City

When: April 25-May 27, Monday – Thursday 10-8pm, Friday – Saturday, 10-5pm
Opening Reception April 28th, 6-8pm. Photo display, film screening, discussion. Free food and drink. All welcome.

The exhibit features black and white photography of Sikh communities throughout California, with a special emphasis on Yuba City. Over twenty-five prints on display provide insight into the public and private life of a community that is often misunderstood. The photographer, Stacey J. Miller, has captured images of men and women in prayer, at work, in the home, and at festivals. Her work challenges viewers to re-imagine what "community" means, particularly in regards to inclusion of diverse religious and cultural traditions.

The exhibit also features video footage from interviews conducted with longtime members of California’s Sikh communities. The interview footage, drawn primarily from men and women living in Yuba City between 1948-1965, focuses on narrators’ experiences traveling to the United States, the challenges they (and those who came before them) encountered, and how they built a familial and social life over the decades. The video clips are intended to inspire viewers to rethink who is a California "pioneer" and how to rewrite history to include stories that are often ignored. Two television-listening stations will run continuously, featuring approximately thirty-two minutes of footage.

The Punjabi American Heritage Society (PAHS) of Yuba City is the exhibit sponsor. Funding for the exhibit was made possible by a grant from The California Council for the Humanities and matching funds from PAHS. The Sikh Temple of Sacramento made an additional contribution