In Person: David Keplinger appearing at AU's Katzen Museum: Curator's Talk, "Blue and Gray: This Era of Exile"

Artwork by Kebedech Tekleab
Poetry by E. Ethelbert Miller
Curated by David Keplinger

The recent fratricidal war in Ethiopia; the constant turmoil in Somalia; the current wars between Russia and Ukraine; the war in Syria; the unrest in Iran, Israel, and Palestine; and so many other countries continue to be responsible for a massive loss of human life and the displacement of people.

On June 17 from 6-9 pm there will be an open reception to view the exhibition by Ethiopian artist Kebedech Tekleab and DC poet Ethelbert Miller. David Keplinger will moderate a conversation between the two on June 24 (time TBA) in the museum.

Visually and imaginatively stunning, these pairings aim to challenge our preconceptions about exile, engaging the “insider” exiled from safety in a structurally racist society in conversation with the “outsider,” the exile/dissident, who has fled political strife to an academic position in the United States, but whose work still reflects an active hyper-vigilance against coming danger.