Empty Columns are a Place to Dream: Monuments as Community at the Intersection of Art and History

Poster for this event. It shows a picture of a monument and contains the same information as this page.

A lecture by Ric Kadour, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Arts Curatorial Fellow

Monuments are ubiquitous in the landscape. Common and omnipresent, they blend into the background and go unnoticed until someone points them out. In recent years, monuments have become flashpoints of cultural controversy across the globe. Debates about monuments in the U.S. have focused on whether Confederate statues should stay or be removed. While this is an important debate, this talk invites a different conversation: What role do we want monuments to play in our community? What shared ideas or collective memories do we want future generations to celebrate? And ultimately, how can we build communities where all people enjoy safety, security, well-being, and dignity on their own terms.

From monuments commemorating British Empire in Ireland to Confederate statues in the U.S., artist and writer Ric Kadour uses art and history to spark conversations about the meaning and impact of monuments today and going forward.

Tuesday, March 8, 4-5:30 PM, UA Student Center 3107.

Sponsored by the Departments of American Studies, Art and Art History, History, and the Collaborative Arts Research Initiative.

For more information contact Dr. Teresa Cribelli, teresa.cribelli@ua.edu