Students in the New London Adult Education’s English Language Learner program were featured this month in an art exhibit in conjunction with the Florence Griswold Museum and Expressiones Gallery.

Immigrants representing nearly 30 countries, including Sudan, China, Azerbaijan, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Gambia, the Ivory Coast and Syria, attended art workshops hosted by the museum to give them a voice in their new community and express themselves in a creative way when language might be a barrier.

“When you’re an immigrant, it’s never an easy process,” said Jose Garaycochea-Ulloa, executive director of Expressiones.

He said having immigrants express themselves through art makes the transition to a new country easier. In every situation, he said, immigrants gave expression to ideal situations and ideal people.

“It’s part of the American dream,” he said.

Many of the masks lined up on one wall of the studio had colors on one side mimicking the flag of the artist’s home country, while the other side usually contained American iconography and colors. Immigrants represented in the show were largely from New London, but others, ranging in age from 18 to 70, were from Groton, Old Lyme, Waterford and Montville, said English as a Second Language instructor Jennifer Smith.

The show ran at Expressiones Gallery in New London from May 18-25 and featured prints, collages and ceramic pieces made by more than 300 students. For more information, contact Andrea Fenton at fentona@newlondon.org.