The Practice of Democracy: A View From Connecticut examines how justice, equality and power appear in our built environment — our cities and neighborhoods, the places we call home. This interactive exhibit will travel to three Connecticut cities: Bridgeport, New Haven, and Norwalk, illuminating a collection of local stories exploring how each of us experiences the values rooted in democratic principles and ideologies.
January 17-February 24
Housatonic Museum of Art at Housatonic Community College
900 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport, CT
The Housatonic Museum of Art is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, student docents will lead tours starting at 12:30 p.m.
March 6-April 14
New Alliance Foundation Art Gallery at Gateway Community College
20 Church Street, New Haven, CT
April 24-June 2
Art Gallery, East Campus at Norwalk Community College
188 Richards Ave. Norwalk, CT
A View From Connecticut is a site-specific immersion of The Practice of Democracy, an interactive exhibit created in partnership with Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, The Housing Collective, and Regional Plan Association, that explores how — and for whom — Connecticut’s communities were designed.
Everyday experiences can be viewed through the interconnected layers of culture, environment, economy, politics, and society. The Practice of Democracy offers perspectives on how these layers influence the various systems of the built environment we design like housing, businesses, streets, schools and public spaces — and how they support or hinder a collective pursuit of democracy. Through these stories and other tools, the exhibition offers a deeper understanding of how democracy is accessed and by whom, while encouraging visitors to see themselves as stewards of democratic values centered on healing, equity, and justice.
The vision and ideas behind the creation of The Practice of Democracy: We Hold These Truths are rooted in the personal and professional journey of April De Simone.