America Will Be!

Image: June Edmonds, Four Years in the White House. 2019-2021. Courtesy of the artist and the Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art.

Opening Reception

Join us and celebrate the opening of our spring exhibition, America Will Be! The evening features a live performance by Sheldon Scott, whose practice entwines memory, labor, and Black southern narratives.

Opening February 6th from 5-7 PM.

Performance by Sheldon Scott from 5-6 PM. 
 

Registration Link Here

America Will Be!

Marking the United States' 250th anniversary, America Will Be! explores the rich history of how artists and communities have engaged with the complexities, opportunities, failures, and triumphs of "The American experiment." Through objects and images that harness the power of the U.S. flag, the exhibition asks: How is race used to politically disenfranchise American citizens and asylum seekers? How have members of the Black community responded to systematic political exclusion with resilient, creative forms of political participation? And how might we expand what it means to participate in democracy as we write the nation's next chapter together?

Showcasing 25 artworks, objects, and documents spanning generations and U.S. regions. Featured artists include: Sanford Biggers, Deidrick Brackens, June Clark, Sonya Clark, June Edmonds, Mark Thomas Gibson, David Hammons, Gordon Parks, Faith Ringgold, Cauleen Smith, Hank Willis Thomas, and Nari Ward.

Credits: America Will Be! is curated by Dr. Nicole Archer (Montclair State University) and Dr. Jordana Moore Saggese (University of Maryland, College Park). Lead support for the exhibition is provided by The Terra Foundation for American Art. The Terra Foundation for American Art, established in 1978 and having offices in Chicago and Paris, supports organizations and individuals locally and globally with the aim of fostering intercultural dialogues and encouraging transformative practices that expand narratives of American art, through the foundation’s grant program, collection, and initiatives.

Additional support is provided by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and the University of Maryland’s Arts for All initiative.

The Driskell Center is committed to providing accommodations for all visitors and believes accessibility is essential across all aspects of its work. Contact driskellcenter@umd.edu at least one week prior to the event to discuss your access needs.

Press Kit Available Soon. 

Request a Tour of the Exhibition Here.