Cynefin is a Welsh word that does not have an exact equivalent in the English language. Often translated as habitat, the word has a deeper, more nuanced meaning that describes a place of existential belonging; a synchronicity between peoples and their relationship to habitat and cultural history.

This word names an inaugural group exhibition and opening of a new gallery and residency program in Athens, Greece. It marks the expansion of the Freeman Artist Residency program, founded by Welsh visual artist Neal Rock, in Charlottesville, Virginia (2020). Its mission is to provide creative opportunities to artists from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, in memory of the Welsh artist and educator Michael Freeman, whose work is included in the exhibition. Freeman taught outside of formal educational institutions in the provision of adult education classes to working class communities in South Wales, from the 1970s through to the first decade of this century. This exhibition celebrates Freeman's passion and dedication by bringing together artists that curator Neal Rock has forged friendships and dialogues with over the past two decades, including current Freeman Artist Residents in the USA, Vibha Vijay and Virginia Gibson. The artists in this exhibition have led peripatetic lives in their pursuit of cynefin. Having often left their countries and communities of birth, many have created a foundation for a sense of belonging that crosses national, ideological and political borders and boundaries.

Maria Georgoula. Untitled. 2020. Rubber mats, cement cast. Dimensions variable.

National Liberty Museum Presents the Power of Art as Civic Dialogue as it Hosts an Ambitious New Exhibition Curated by Philadelphia Sculptors

Opening May 10, the National Liberty Museum is hosting an ambitious multi-media exhibition, In Pursuit: Artists’ Perspectives on a Nation, curated by Philadelphia Sculptors. The exhibition features sculptures and large-scale installations by seven internationally acclaimed artists displayed across three of NLM’s four floors.

For the exhibition, Philadelphia Sculptors invited works from cross-disciplinary artist Anila Quayyum Agha, sculptor Angel Cabrales, multi-disciplinary artist Nicholas Galanin, visual artist Arghavan Khosravi, social practice and fiber artist Aram Han Sifuentes, multi-disciplinary artist Artur Silva, and the UVA Art Department's own  Marisa Williamson.