Poet and President of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Elizabeth Alexander and painter Amy Sherald have both produced works critical to marking and reflecting on recent periods of political and social change in the United States. Alexander wrote and recited the poem “Praise Song for Our Day” to usher forward the presidency of the first black American president, Barack Obama, and Sherald painted the official portrait of the First Lady, Michelle Obama, one of two works to mark the end of the Obama Presidency.
Join us for a discussion with Alexander and Sherald about their creative processes and their commitments to the humanities. This event seeks to diversify perspectives on the arts disciplines and to offer models for collective and inclusive community dialogues.
This event is co-sponsored by Humanities New York, Bard Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard Center for Civic Engagement, Bard Undergraduate Program in Africana Studies, Bard High School Early College, and Bard American Studies Program.