National Mall | Washington, DC | August 18-September 18, 2023

Paul Farber and Salamishah Tillet | Co-curators
Aubree Penney | Assistant Curator
Jen Cleary and Aubree Penney | Accessibility Co-leads

Curatorial
I had the pleasure of serving as assistant curator in my capacity as a Curatorial Associate for Monument Lab, doing extensive research in preparation for the artist selection process. Drawing from the central question of the exhibition–What stories remain untold on the National Mall?–we wanted to bring artists who could offer compelling responses to the question, reimagining monumentality and representation on the Mall through temporary artworks, or as Monument Lab calls them “prototype monuments.”

Accessibility
We believe “America’s Front Yard” is for everybody and every body. By considering diverse needs, the team behind Beyond Granite: Pulling Together strove to create an inclusive, accessible, and enjoyable experience for all visitors.

Works were placed near accessible pathways, and mesh was installed to form paths at grassy exhibition sites, facilitating easier navigation for those with mobility impairments. Additional accessibility resources, including descriptions of artwork images and sounds, specifics about the Welcome Stations and programming (including ASL and CART), and AI-assisted translations of exhibition materials were available via beyondgranite.org. Visual descriptions were provided as part of speakers’ introductions in programming.

We consider these efforts not only as measures to maximize accessibility but also as intentional extensions of the project, an envisioning of public art on the National Mall as a resource for all.

Beyond Granite: Pulling Together was presented by the Trust for the National Mall, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the National Park Service and curated by Paul Farber and Salamishah Tillet for Monument Lab.

Generously funded by the Mellon Foundation

Image Credits
Wendy Red Star, The Soil You See... (2023). Photo courtesy Steve Weinik.
Derrick Adams, America’s Playground: DC (2023). Photo courtesy Steve Weinik.
Paul Ramírez Jonas, Let Freedom Ring (2023). Photo courtesy Steve Weinik.
vanessa german, Of Thee We Sing (2023). Photo courtesy Steve Weinik.
Ashon T. Crawley, HOMEGOING (2023). Photo courtesy Steve Weinik.
Tiffany Chung, For the Living (2023). Photo courtesy Steve Weinik.