The ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ University Art Museum (FUAM) is thrilled to announce the opening of its latest exhibition, "Sacred Space: A Brandywine Workshop and Archive Print Exhibition," on September 20, 2024, in the Museum’s Walsh Gallery in the Quick Center for the Arts.
Sacred Space, organized by guest curator Juanita Sunday, draws on the rich history of the Brandywine Workshop and Archives, founded in Philadelphia in 1972 by artist Allan Edmunds. As of 2023, FUAM is home to a Brandywine “satellite collection”—the ony such collection in Connecticut, and one of only 18 in the United States, including the Harvard Art Museums and the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. This exhibition features works from FUAM’s own collection as well as loans from Brandywine itself.
Sacred Space encourages a deep exploration of spiritual connection, inviting viewers to reflect on the ancestral wisdom and memory passed down through generations. The exhibition serves as a portal into the interconnected realms of spirituality, time, space, memory, and culture. The artists pay homage to their forebears, drawing upon cultural traditions, rituals, and sacred practices to honor and preserve, as well as question, the invaluable heritage that shapes our identities.
In addition to the prominent works from the Brandywine Collection, the exhibition will also feature local artists whose works are responding to the themes in Sacred Space. Artists invited by curator Juanita Sunday include Aisha Nailah, Iyaba Mandigo, Greg Aime, Arvia Walker, and Rebecca Fowke.
A wonderful selection of programming has been created to complement the exhibition, including a an opening night talk with the exhibition curator followed by a performance by Lauren Horn; an opening night reception with a spoken word performance by Iyaba Mandingo; an artist’s talk by Arturo Lindsay, D.A., professor emeritus, Department of Art and Art History at Spelman College; and a lecture on the historic impact of the Brandywine Workshop by independent curator and educator, Halima Taha. The museum is free and open to all, and all programs are free, but registration is requested via (fuam.eventbrite.com).
The Walsh Gallery is located in the Quick Center for the Arts, and is open Tuesday – Saturday, 11-4, and with special extended hours on Thursdays until 8 p.m.
About the Curator
Juanita Sunday is a curator & cultural producer with a passion for Afrofuturism. With her background in digital media and design (BA) from the University of Connecticut School of Fine Arts, she bridges the gap between traditional and digital media to create immersive and thought-provoking experiences with a keen focus on amplifying Black narratives. Juanita has worked on various projects ranging from art exhibitions to festivals, and her expertise lies in creating dynamic experiences that engage and inspire audiences. She is dedicated to using her skills to uplift Black culture, always.
Planned Exhibition Programming:
Friday, September 20, 5:30 p.m.
Opening Lecture: Sacred Space: A Brandywine Workshop and Archive Print Exhibition
Guest Curator Juanita Sunday with performance by Lauren Horn
Quick Center for the Arts, Kelley Theatre and thequicklive.com
Friday, September 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Opening Reception: with Performances by Iyaba Mandingo
Quick Center for the Arts, Walsh Gallery and lobby
Tuesday, October 8, 5 p.m.
Lecture: To See Is to Know: Children of Middle Passage
Arturo Lindsay, D.A., professor emeritus, Department of Art and Art History at Spelman College
Quick Center for the Arts, Kelley Theatre and streaming on thequicklive.com
This event is generously co-sponsored by the Arts Institute, the Departments of Visual and Performing Arts and History, and the programs in Black Studies and LatinX, Latin-American and Caribbean Studies.
Thursday, October 10, 5 p.m.
Lecture: Unveiling Creativity: The Impact of the Brandywine Workshop
Halima Taha, Independent Curator and Educator
Quick Center for the Arts, Kelley Theatre and streaming on thequicklive.com
Part of the Edwin L. Weisl, Jr. Lectureships in Art History, funded by the Robert Lehman Foundation
Thursday, November 21, 5 p.m.
Lecture: Conserving Contemporary Works on Paper
Clara Rojas-Sebesta, Ellsworth Kelly Conservator of Works on Paper, Whitney Museum of American Art
Quick Center for the Arts, Kelley Theatre and streaming on thequicklive.com
Part of the Edwin L. Weisl, Jr. Lectureships in Art History, funded by the Robert Lehman Foundation
