Philadelphia – Monument Lab opens Declaration House, a public art and history exhibition at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, that explores the site where Thomas Jefferson and Robert Hemmings spent several months during the summer of 1776. The project poses a central question – What does the Declaration of Independence mean to us today? By moving Hemmings to the center of this moment in history, the project seeks to illuminate the entangled legacies of freedom and enslavement at the core of our nation’s founding. Declaration House is presented by Monument Lab, and co-curated by Anna Arabindan-Kesson (Visiting Curator; Associate Professor, Princeton University, Paul Farber (Director, Monument Lab), and Yolanda Wisher (Senior Curator, Monument Lab).
The project runs from June 24–September 8, 2024.
Declaration House presents the exclusive premiere of Sonya Clark’s “The Descendants of Monticello,” a public artwork that brings the historic house to life through a monumental montage featuring the blinking eyes of Robert Hemmings’ collateral descendants and others who are related to the over 400 people enslaved at Monticello, including descendants biologically related to Jefferson. Clark worked with Monticello’s Getting Word African American Oral History Project as a close collaborative partner on the project and temporary exterior installation at Independence National Historical Park.
“Through this exhibition, we went looking for Robert Hemmings and found America,” says Paul Farber, Director and Co-Founder of Monument Lab. “We are grateful to carry out this collaboration between Monument Lab and artist Sonya Clark, Independence National Historical Park, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, Getting Word, and many other partners who have contributed to this profound and meaningful project.”
Superintendent Steven Sims of Independence National Historic Park says, “We appreciate this opportunity to work with Monument Lab and the artist Sonya Clark to expand the story of the Declaration House to include Robert Hemmings. His presence here in Philadelphia in 1776, and in the very rooms where Jefferson created the Declaration of Independence, is emblematic of the paradox of freedom and slavery in our nation’s founding.”
Declaration House also includes public programs with creative residents Jeannine A. Cook and Ty “Dancing Wolf” Ellis, and a Welcome Station during summer weekend hours at the historic house where visitors are invited to respond to the project’s central question with hand-drawn responses that will be collected by Monument Lab and shared with Independence National Historical Park to inform future programming and reflection ahead of America’s Semiquincentennial in 2026.
The exhibition opens on June 24, 2024 and runs through September 8, 2024. The exhibition will open with a Declaration House Block Party as a part of the Wawa Welcome America festival on June 24, from 5-8pm, hosted by Monument Lab at Independence National Historical Park (700 Market Street) including the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Free Library of Philadelphia, Harriet's Bookshop, Independence Historical Trust, Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Restorative Justice Program, PhillyCAM, and WHYY.
Major support for Declaration House has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, with additional support from VIA Art Fund and the National Endowment for the Arts. Lead project partners include Independence National Historical Park and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation’s Monticello and its Getting Word African American Oral History Project.
For all press and media inquiries: Florie Hutchinson, [email protected].