Rising Sun: Artists in an Uncertain America

Two historic museums present a joint exhibition of new works by 20 artists invited to respond to the question: “Is the sun rising or setting on the experiment of American democracy?” The exhibition takes inspiration from the metaphor of the “rising sun” as framed by both Benjamin Franklin—who asked in 1787 if the sun was rising or setting on the United States—and by James Weldon Johnson, who wrote in his 1900 song Lift Every Voice and Sing about “facing the rising sun of our new day begun.”  

For the project, both museums are transformed to provoke the necessary work of re-appraisal, reckoning, and repair as institutions and artists work together toward more equitable museum spaces. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) empties its 1876-built museum of its permanent collection and dedicates the entire space to this joint effort, a process that is informing how the institution later reinstalls its historic collection. The African American Museum of Philadelphia (AAMP) gives artists unprecedented access to its collection and displays new works throughout the museum. 

Reflecting on free speech, human rights, equality, and other democratic principles, the artists include Shiva Ahmadi, John Akomfrah CBE, La Vaughn Belle, Tiffany Chung, Lenka Clayton, Petah Coyne, Martha Jackson Jarvis, Demetrius Oliver, Eamon Ore-Giron, Alison Saar, Dread Scott, Rose B. Simpson, Sheida Soleimani, Renée Stout, Pew Fellow Mark Thomas Gibson, Dyani White Hawk, Hank Willis Thomas, Deborah Willis, Pew Fellow Wilmer Wilson IV, and Saya Woolfalk.

The total grant amount represents project funding plus an additional 20% in unrestricted general operating support.