Hey, We Need to Talk!
Exploring What It Means to be American Through Art and Conversation
Artist Philippa Pham Hughes is guided by an aesthetic of care and delight in creating relational spaces for joy, human interaction, reflection, and flourishing. In “Hey, We Need to Talk,” Hughes continues an exploration in her work about what it means to be an American. Hughes aims to strengthen democracy through art-driven dialogues that repair the social fabric of our country. In these relational conversations, she asks visitors to contemplate what it means to flourish—both as individuals and as a community.
Featuring a vibrant wallpaper of 50 state flowers designed by artist Ouizi (Louise Jones), the exhibition symbolizes national unity and the diverse beauty found across America. Against this backdrop and among works of art chosen from UMMA’s collection, a series of interactive social events will unfold, encouraging visitors to engage in honest, courageous, common sense discussions about civic responsibility and national identity. These interactive elements invite visitors to make new connections and find new ways to flourish through the power of community, sustainability, dignity, and beauty.
The Common Sense Diner
Join your neighbors and strangers for a meal in the Common Sense Diner. Let’s get to know each other and talk about what it means to be an American right now.
Meals occur in the “Hey, We Need to Talk” gallery on Thursday evenings and Friday afternoons — they are free to attend, but application is required to ensure a diverse mix of participants.
Related Events
Select Works In This Exhibition
About Philippa Pham Hughes
Philippa Pham Hughes,Visiting Artist For Art & Civic Engagement at UMMA, is a social practice artist, cultural strategist, and curator developing conversational and creative experiences aimed at strengthening democracy and repairing the social fabric of our country one creative conversation at a time. Philippa draws from the arts and humanities to design spaces for honest conversations across political, social, and cultural differences. She has produced hundreds of activations since 2007 for people who might not normally meet to engage with one another in unconventional and meaningful ways. She also curates multi-disciplinary art exhibits & experiences. Hey, We Need to Talk! is a continuation of an event hosted at UMMA in 2022.
About Louise Jones
Louise Jones (neé Chen) is a second-generation Chinese American, born in Los Angeles in 1988. Her work first gained recognition after moving to Detroit in 2014, where she began painting murals of flowers on buildings and local businesses. To date, her murals have been displayed in museums and public spaces throughout the US and the world. For Hey, We Need to Talk! Jones will create a vibrant wallpaper of the 50 state flowers which will hang on the wall in UMMA’s gallery and will serve as the backdrop for the exhibition.
Related Exhibition
SUPPORT
Hey, We Need To Talk! is a part of Vote 2024 at UMMA. Lead support is provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
