On Being American | Contemporary Artworks, Echoes of the Past
- Lippitt House Museum
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
On Being American | Contemporary Artworks, Echoes of the Past, is an exhibition reimagining the historic house through the work of five contemporary artists. This is the first of two exhibitions at Lippitt House Museum in 2026 that commemorate our nation's Semiquincentennial by exploring history through the lens of craft and design.
A Statement From the Curator: Susan Hardy
"In thinking about a distinguished residence of a notable Rhode Islander and the furnishings associated with it, I came to the conclusion that a newer story could be told. That version could reflect the history while also teasing out elements of the present, making it more relevant to the here and now. We live in the noisome 21st century now. What might be a way to explore newer possibilities for interpretation? Well, artists could do that by making art that is contemporary in content but still echoes the past. This kind of imagination and creative expression, I believe, could spark the attention of today’s audience and curious historians, while also casting a wider net to stimulate interest in an historic home.
"These thoughts set the stage for my conversation with the Museum Director of one such home, Lippitt House Museum. The next step was to engage members of our own artistic community. We quickly agreed on the artistic mediums we’d like to feature then selected five artists whose work best showcased them. Each artist would take one of five rooms in the stately home to provide context and allow their own interpretation of the then and now. The five of us met and discussed our impressions and what came to mind in formulating our distinct creations. We swam through the process very quickly because the house had been waiting for this moment.
"So we have a glass artist who has made green glass goblets with long columns that speak of extravagance, and possibly excess, traits that evoke the Victorian Age. Another artist is using cotton bolls, yes real ones, tangibly signifying the enslaved people who lived and labored in our southern states that enabled the manufacturing of textiles in the North. One artist uses fiber that is woven to suggest opulence and wealth, but the reverse side reflects the workers’ labor. In another space, a photographer portrays patterns of water in motion, reflecting the tumbling waterways that powered the mills. And a fifth room has curios-- small frivolous objects without utilitarian use that convey the pursuit of status and comfort.
"If you look at the whole of the installation, you see so much more than the history you would associate with a 161-year- old mansion. A bigger story unfolds and conversation begins... tying the present with the past in terms of contemporary art."
To read about each of the five artists and their contributions to On Being American | Contemporary Artworks, Echoes of the Past, visit these spotlights:
