Join us on the evening of January 30th at the Parkway Central branch of The Free Library of Philadelphia as we launch this multimedia installation showcasing over 20 years of work by artist Sheryl Oring. With her “I Wish to Say” project, in which she dresses as a 1960s secretary and takes her typewriter to public spaces such as libraries and parks to document people’s hopes, fears, and expectations of the nation’s future. Oring has defined socially engaged art practice in the 21st century. Oring will share more about her process and how performance art amplifies the everyday acts of listening and meaning making. This free, drop-in event is from 5:30 to 7:30 pm and will include light refreshments as well as a Q&A with Oring and curator Suzanna Urminska. The exhibition will be open during Parkway Central Library’s public hours during the first 100 days of the U.S. presidency and will include related public programming. The library is at 1901 Vine Street in Philadelphia. 

This work has been made possible thanks to grants from the Creative Capital Foundation, Franklin Furnace Fund, New York Foundation for the Arts, North Carolina Arts Council, The Puffin Foundation, the Charles R. Kettering Foundation, and with support from the National Coalition Against Censorship.

Photo credit: Brian Palmer