David Winton Bell Gallery announces Kate Kraczon as new curator
The Bell Gallery appointed Kate Kraczon as its new curator August 1. She will manage the educational programs out of the gallery and will oversee “conceptualization and implementation” of the rotating exhibits, according to the Brown Arts Initiative press release. The Bell Gallery is the University’s contemporary art gallery, which resides in the lobby of the List Art Center. Kraczon will also help foster the continued development of the University’s permanent art collection. She previously oversaw Penn’s Institute of Contemporary Art. At the ICA, Kraczon gained acclaim for promoting emerging artists in her curatorial work.
The Bell Gallery has seen other recent changes, including an official merge with the BAI following their long collaborative partnership. BAI now spans six University departments and two programs which make up the performing, literary and visual arts. “(Kraczon’s) deep knowledge of contemporary art and curatorial expertise will enrich our offerings as we officially join the BAI to present leading-edge contemporary art in Brown’s cross-disciplinary ecosystem,” Jo-Ann Conklin, the director of the Bell Gallery, said.
“A Landscape Without Prisons”
Jackie Sumell, multidisciplinary artist and prison abolitionist, delivered the keynote lecture Thursday for TERRA: Art | Land | Justice, A Brown Arts Initiative Symposium on Arts and Environment. Sumell currently has an installation on display at the Cohen and Atrium Galleries in the Granoff Center for the Creative Arts titled “A Landscape Without Prisons.” The installation, running from Sept. 4 until Oct. 13, tackles issues of institutionalized racism within the United States as well as the dynamic between incarcerated individuals and the built and natural environments.
Her installation explores this paradigm through a variety of drawings, sculptures and images from her previous pieces. Some of Sumell’s best known works in the installation include “Solitary Gardens,” in which she turned jail cells into garden beds. She is also known for “The House that Herman Built,” named after Herman Wallace, an incarcerated individual who was placed into solitary confinement in the Louisiana State Penitentiary and died three days after being released. Sumell has worked directly with incarcerated people for the last 20 years.
Brown Alums Nominated for Emmys
The 71st Emmy Awards will take place Sunday, and several University alums are among those nominated. Aunjanue Ellis ’93 is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for “When They See Us,” Laura Linney ’86 is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for “Ozark,” Marin Hinkle ’88 is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” Steven Levenson ’06 is nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special for “Fosse/Verdon,” Bruce Miller ’87 is nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series on “The Handmaid’s Tale” and Betsy West ’73 is nominated for Outstanding Director for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program for her work on “RBG.” “RBG” also won a Creative Emmy during the ceremony on Sept. 14 for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking.
Several series and programs produced by University alums have also been nominated for awards. The series “Pose,” executive produced by Nina Jacobson ’87, is up for multiple awards, as is “black-ish,” produced by Jonathan Groff ’83.
