Syracuse Sun

A symposium titled "Monumental Concerns 2" will take place on March 21 at The Museum of Modern Art's Titus 1 Theatre in New York City. Hosted by Syracuse University Artist in Residence Carrie Mae Weems, the event will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and is open to the public with required registration.

Weems stated, “As artists we are all profoundly engaged in our mutual practices, yet the water gathers us into a single pool. I invite you to stand on the bridge as we consider contested sites of memory and monuments.”

The symposium aims to explore the politics of disagreement and create a framework for collective belonging. Topics include understanding dialogue around monuments, negotiating conflicting narratives, and whether disagreement is essential for transformation.

Participants include Leah Dickerman from MoMA, Paul M. Farber of Monument Lab, Karin Goodfellow from Boston's art department, civil rights lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill, composer Vijay Iyer, Syracuse University's Delali Kumavie and Kendall R. Phillips, Roeshana Moore-Evans of Equity Empowerment Consulting, artist Eto Otitigbe from Brooklyn College, Beyond Conflict CEO Timothy Phillips, composer Samora Pinderhughes at MoMA, poet Carl Hancock Rux, historian Tim Ryback from the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation, trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson, architect Mabel O. Wilson from Columbia University, and Christina Zhang from Lehigh University.

The event concludes with a musical performance titled “Defiant Life” by Iyer and Smith from 6 to 7 p.m.

Co-organized by Syracuse University and The Museum of Modern Art with support from the Mellon Foundation. For more details contact Kate Schwartz at 315.443.8017 or kschwa03@syr.edu.