The Fairfield University Art Museum and the recently established Alumni of Color Network invite all alumni to a private reception and sneak preview of the Carrie Mae Weems’ exhibit, The Usual Suspects, on Friday, September 17 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Walsh Gallery in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The evening will include a private reception as well as a virtual viewing of the opening night conversation with Courtney Taylor, exhibition curator, and curator and director of public programs, Louisiana State University Museum of Art, and Dalila Scruggs, educator and curator, Brooklyn Museum. R.S.V.P. to attend this private showing by Monday, September 13.

Carrie Mae Weems: The Usual Suspects includes recent photographic and video works questioning stereotypes that associate Black bodies with criminality. As part of the Art Museum’s fall exhibitions which focuses on issues of racial justice, racism, police reform, and Black history in the United States, Carey Mack Weber, the Frank and Clara Meditz Executive Director of the museum, said displaying these pieces “reflects the museum’s commitment to uplifting the voices of Black artists, and to creating an engaging and safe space to consider the issues surrounding systemic racism in our communities. These are difficult things to talk about, but we look forward to inviting all of our different audiences to join us in moving the conversations forward into action.” 

This exhibition will be available for viewing from Saturday, September 18 through Saturday, December 18 and is organized by LSU Museum of Art in collaboration with LSU College of Art + Design, and LSU School of Art. Support for this exhibition at LSU is provided by The Winifred and Kevin P. Reilly Jr. Fund with additional support from Annual Exhibition Fund donors.

This exhibition is made possible at the Fairfield University Art Museum by the generous support of the #UNLOAD Foundation, the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation, and Aquarion Water Company. The Mary and Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community is a community partner for the museum’s programming this fall.

Learn more about the exhibit at fairfield.edu/museum/carriemaeweems. Anyone who is unable to attend the event can watch the Opening Night Conversation live or recorded at quickcenter.com, and can see a virtual tour of the exhibition on the museum’s website after the opening.

The Alumni of Color Network is a Fairfield affinity group organized by Stag alumni who work within and in collaboration with the entire alumni community. The Network furthers the University's work as an institution committed to inclusive excellence and serves as a forum and means for alumni of color to engage with members of the University to build upon our commitment to diversity. Any member of Fairfield’s alumni community is encouraged and welcomed to join. To learn more about the Alumni of Color Network, click here.