3/10 In Dialogue: Smithsonian Objects and Social Justice with the National Portrait Gallery

“The story of America as a destination for the homeless and hungry of the world is not only a myth. It is a story of desperation, of sadness, of uncertainty, of leaving your home. It is also a story of determination, and—more than anything—of hope.” Hung Liu, 2017

Our second seminar was focused on the National Portrait Gallery, with the first half of the afternoon devoted to the exhibit, “Hung Lui: Portraits of Promised Lands.” Hung Liu was a contemporary Chinese American artist, described as being best known for her multilayered paintings which sought to establish “new frameworks for understanding portraiture in relation to time, memory, and history.” Her work was informed by her personal history of having lived through war, political revolution, exile and displacement in her native China. She often drew inspiration from photographs, seeking to showcase the marginalized members of society.  Her work speaks powerfully to those seeking better lives, and presents a complex picture of an Asian Pacific American experience not often documented. Guiding a virtual tour through the exhibit was Dorothy Moss , acting director of curatorial affairs at the National Portrait Gallery. She also serves as curator of painting and sculpture at the National Portrait Gallery and coordinating curator of the Smithsonian Women’s History Initiative. Her longtime friendship with Hung Lui provided an insightful tour of the exhibit, and led to a thoughtful discussion.

Following a short break, the afternoon moved on to a presentation of how exhibits of the NPG can be used to address issues of social justice. Briana Zavadil White, who oversees the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s education programs, was our guide for this half of the afternoon, with her presentation, “Using Portraiture to Teach the Struggle for Justice.” Starting with a discussion of who has historically been omitted from the collection and how this affects the current acquisitions process, Fellows began to develop ideas for engaging their students in preparation for a trip to the museum Next, she presented works from the exhibit, “The Struggle for Justice.” Fellows were guided through global thinking routines developed by Harvard’s Project Zero. She also provided a number of resources that Fellows could easily adapt to the classroom. Once again, it was a full and rich afternoon.

Photo: Strange Fruit: Comfort Women by Hung Lui, on exhibit, National Portrait Gallery