Who is America at 250? Artists’ Books on the State of Democracy

Curated by Betty Bright, Mark Dimunation, Maymanah Farhat, Yuka Petz, and Ruth Rogers

The exhibition Who is America at 250? Artists' Books on the State of Democracy explores the realities and perceptions of living in the United States today. Featuring artists' books and print work by artists from across the nation, the exhibition reflects on the current state of our American experiment.

“Who Is America at 250?” addresses critical issues that individuals and communities in the United States face daily, such as immigration, social injustice, racial inequity, and wage inequality. Simultaneously, the exhibition explores what makes America known as the "land of opportunity," providing perspectives on both the challenges and prospects of American democracy.

Exhibiting Artists

Golnar Adili, Shana Agid, Aurora de Armendi, Alisa Banks, Tia Blassingame, Ben Blount, Eileen Boxer, Gabby Cooksey, Ana Paula Cordeiro, Anne Covell, IBé Bulinda Crawley, Nia Easley, Jocmarys Viruet Feliciano, Kyle Goen, Nabil Gonzalez, Kimi Hanaeur, Art Hazelwood, Thad Higa, Robin Holder, Robert Kalman, Ann Kalmbach & Tatana Kellner, Andrea Krupp, Colleen Lawrence, Russell Maret, Sana Masud, Jan Owen, Maria Pisano, Felicia Rice, Gino Romero, Gaylord Schanilec, Keri Miki-Lani Schroeder, Beldan Sezen, Andrea Shaker, Robbin Ami Silverberg & Kim Berman, Alan Sobrino, Tyler Starr, Beth Thielen, Sara White

Visit the exhibition during our open hours, Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–5pm, Thursdays until 7pm, and Sundays, 11am–3pm.

Free and open to the public

Where

MCBA Main Gallery

When

June 13, 2026–August 16, 2026

Curator Tours With Betty Bright

Saturday, June 27 at 2pm
Thursday, July 9 at 5:30pm
Thursday, Aug. 6 at 5:30pm*

*Curator Ruth Rogers will be here!

Written response to “Who is America at 250?”

The winning piece by Emerson was selected by a panel and set and printed by artist Parry Cadwallader on MCBA’s historic iron hand press.

All I know is I will never have to hide a red cap in the attic

On the eve of my country's demise, I made a pie from my garden's cherries.

All American and unknowingly infested with worms.

They float to the surface. Small solid lines of white amongst bubbling crimson red.

Without notice, I have entombed them between the crust.

Bombs overhead boom 250 omens for every year of our empire.

I place my ribs in a cross on my paper plate, cut my pie into 8 slices

(save 2 for later when the king takes his throne)

and mumble a prayer from a book I don't believe in.

I better soon I suppose.

By Emerson

Read all of the submissions HERE

COORDInated Programming

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