Museum to Host Two Major Events for Sacred Space, Brandywine Exhibition

The Fairfield University Art Museum will host two lectures in conjunction with the Brandywine Workshop and Archives Print exhibition currently on view in the Museum’s Walsh Gallery.

The Fairfield University Art Museum (FUAM) is thrilled to announce that Arturo Lindsay will be on campus on Tuesday, Oct. 8, to speak about his Children of Middle Passage project. Two of his prints from this project are included in the current exhibition, Sacred Space: A Brandywine Workshop and Archive Print Exhibition. His talk will be at 5 p.m. in the Kelley Theatre of the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Lindsay is professor emeritus of art at Spelman College in Atlanta, and is coming to Fairfield the day before his documentary  Arte Congo  premieres at the Brooklyn Public Library in New York.

On Thursday, Oct. 10, Halima Taha will also be speaking in the Kelley Theatre about the history of the Brandywine Workshop and Archives. She was integral in helping FUAM become a Brandywine "satellite collection," which was the jumping-off point for the current exhibition. She is an independent curator and and art advisor who serves on Brandywine’s board and who co-authored a book on its history.

Both of these events are free, and will also be livestreamed (quickcenter.fairfield.edu/thequicklive) and recorded.

The exhibition Sacred Space: A Brandywine Workshop and Archive Print Exhibition, was organized by guest curator Juanita Sunday, and 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 only 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. The 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 also features local artists, invited by curator Juanita Sunday, whose works are responding to the themes in Sacred Space: Aisha Nailah, Iyaba Ibo Mandigo, Arvia Walker, and Rebecca Fowke.

Museum programs are free, but registration is requested via Eventbrite (fuam.eventbrite.com).

The Walsh Gallery is located in the Quick Center for the Arts, and is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11-4, with special extended hours on Thursdays until 8 p.m. For full details, please visit the exhibition website at fairfield.edu/museum/sacred-space.

About the Curator

Juanita Sunday is a curator and 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.

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