06/19/2026
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” —The Declaration of Independence, 1776
Today, we honor Juneteenth—a day that marks not only the end of slavery in the United States, but also a moment when the nation moved closer to living up to its founding promise. It reminds us that these ideals were always meant for everyone, even if history reveals how hard-won that truth has been.
As we reflect on these ideals, our upcoming exhibition, ‘Looking for History,’ marking the nation's 250th anniversary, feels especially timely. Opening on June 25, Rick Shaefer’s works explore how we connect and come apart—how walls and towers are built, both visible and invisible, and how communication shapes our understanding of one another.
In Ellen Harvey’s work, shown here, she examines how collective loss cannot be erased from history or memory.
The Utopia Neighborhood Club House in Harlem stands as a powerful legacy of Black women-led community care, artistic mentorship, and civil rights organizing—from nurturing young artists like Jacob Lawrence to supporting the broader movement that culminated in events such as the 1963 March on Washington.
Known as “Black Wall Street,” Tulsa’s Greenwood District was a thriving Black community that was destroyed in the 1921 massacre, when a white mob razed homes and businesses, killed dozens—possibly hundreds—of residents, and left thousands homeless, with no justice or reparations.
Juneteenth is both a remembrance and a call to action—a recognition of resilience and a continued push toward a more just and unified future. We hope this exhibition creates space to gather, pause, and consider these shared values once more.
Images:
‘The Disappointed Tourist: Utopia Neighborhood Club House,’ Ellen Harvey, 2024. Oil and acrylic on gessoboard, 24 × 18 in. (61 × 46 cm). Photograph: Etienne Frossard.
‘The Disappointed Tourist: Black Wall Street,’ Ellen Harvey, 2021. Oil and acrylic on gessoboard, 18 × 24 in. (46 × 61 cm). Photograph: Etienne Frossard.
