Artist's Talk

Looking Back - Looking Forward Exhibit

Hear from the artists of the new exhibition at MLK Library, "Looking Back – Looking Forward: Sources of Artistic Inspiration – The Washington Sculptors Group 40th Anniversary"

This exhibition marks the 40th anniversary of the Washington Sculptors Group (WSG), celebrating the organization’s lasting contributions to the DC arts community. It also honors the DC Public Library’s role as a living cultural archive, preserving the stories and histories of the District through its vast collections of literature, artifacts, and primary source documents.  

For this milestone show, WSG members were invited to create works inspired by archival materials in the Library’s People's Archive, or to respond to the Library’s mission as a vital space for learning, memory, and community.  

Artists explored various collections documenting the history of the District of Columbia and its neighborhoods and communities held by The People’s Archive—including the WSG collection. They also reflected on the Library as both a site and symbol of public knowledge. Whether drawing on specific documents or broader concepts, the selected works engage the past while speaking to the present and future of our shared cultural life.

The exhibition includes freestanding and wall-hung sculpture in a range of media and approaches. Each artist brings a distinct voice to the conversation, reflecting the diversity, curiosity, and innovation that have defined WSG over four decades. This anniversary exhibition celebrates not only the legacy of Washington sculptors but also DC Public Library’s enduring role as a catalyst for creativity, civic engagement, and collective memory. 

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