Paul Swenbeck, for Martha, 2026, Digital image courtesy of Fleisher/Ollman

Visions of America / June 5 - July 25, 2026

Visions of America is an invitational, group exhibition of artifacts, artworks and objects capturing select evolutionary moments of the country’s 250-year history from human and animal perspectives.

Participating artists and cultural organizations include:

Edward Bennett, Mikel Elam, Charis Hasney, Vincent Hawley, Mercer Museum, Josh Myers, Newtown Historic Association, Duwenavue Santé Johnson and Paul Swenbeck.

Exhibition Dates: June 5 – July 25, 2026

Opening Reception: June 5, 4 – 8 pm

Free and open to the public

The exhibition presents multiple perspectives addressing specific topics in the history and evolution within America; personal independence, patriotism, war, animal conservation, queer trans identity, 1960’s politics, creativity within Quaker faith and the trauma of slavery.

Curated by Clifford Eberly, Senior Manager of Galleries and Exhibitions at the BCCC Hicks Art Center Gallery, the diverse participants were asked to self-select or invite artists to propose artworks or objects that they viewed as important guiding reflections on America’s past, present and future. The multimedia result demonstrates the possibilities of democracy juxtaposed with critical realizations reminding us that for civilization to holistically advance globally, humility to each other and to the natural world must prevail and begin locally.

Gallery hours are Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and by appointment

The gallery will be closed on June 19th, July 2 and July 3.