National Women's History Museum for Inaugural Exhibit,
We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC
For decades the National Women's History Museum had been organizing virtual exhibits and programs before they hired Tessellate to create their first physical exhibit. The museum partnered with the DC Public Library for the inaugural exhibit, which focuses on the stories and voices of Black feminist organizers and theorists, including Anna Julia Cooper, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mary Treadwell, and Nkenge Touré. With biographical-focused narratives and large imagery, we wanted to highlight the expansive work and struggle of the women who have made a difference in the lives of Black women in their Washington, DC communities, which reverberated throughout the United States.
Tessellate was challenged with creating an exhibition in a non-traditional space - the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library designed by Mies van der Rohe. Working with the museum and the curatorial team, renowned historians Sherie M. Randolph and Kendra T. Field, Tessellate created a bold and colorful exhibition system with interior nooks and passageways designed for contemplation. Interactive media and audio narratives "in their own voice" are found throughout the experience. The resulting design amplifies the lives of these powerful Black women and their contributions to feminism, politics, civil rights, and reproductive justice.
Visit: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St NW, Washington, DC 20001 - Lobby floor.
For more information:
https://www.tessellatestudio.com/nwhm
https://www.womenshistory.org/black-feminist-dc
Design & Production Team:
Tessellate - Exhibition Design, Interactive Design, Graphic and Visual Design, Production, and Installation Oversight
Lauren Sloan - Visual Design Lead
Sequoia Bostick - Custom Illustrations
Blue Telescope - Select Interactive Exhibit Production
Capitol Museum Services - Fabrication
Completed: 2023
