What Do We Hold? A Community Conversation
July 11 – November 21, 2026
James Nafziger Gallery
Roger Shimomura (American, born 1939), American in Disguise, 2012, Acrylic on canvas, 34” x 34”, Collection of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Maribeth Collins Art Acquisition Fund, 2014.032
In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, What Do We Hold? A Community Conversation was created in collaboration with The Conversation Project and the Office of Civic Engagement at Willamette University. The project brought together students, faculty, and Salem community members from a range of backgrounds to explore themes in the Declaration of Independence and how to talk about our histories, present challenges, and hopes for the future. The exhibition will be on view in the James Nafziger Gallery from July 11—November 21, 2026.
Led by Willamette University professors Wendy Peterson-Boring and David Gutterman, participants gathered over the course of three evenings. They shared dinner and stories inspired by phrases in the Declaration of Independence such as “When in the course of human events…,” “What do we hold? What do we pledge?,” and “What do we hope?”. Artworks from the Hallie Ford Museum of Art’s permanent collection served as prompts for these discussions. The artworks included in the exhibition were chosen by the faculty and students for their potential to gesture to the complexity of our experiences and what it means to be American. In many ways, these works of art were themselves active participants in these conversations—and we encourage you to listen to what they are saying today.
Artists included in the exhibition are Jacob Lawrence, Roger Shimomura, Wendy Red Star, Jim Lommasson, Carmen Lomas Garza, Bud Lane, and Michael Brophy.
Exhibition-Related Events
Opening reception: July 11th, 5 to 7pm - free and open to the public.
Further Information
For further information contact:
Jonathan Bucci, The John Olbrantz Curator of Collections and Exhibitions
Phone: 503-370-6861
Email: jbucci@willamette.edu
Vanessa Hopt, Assistant to the Director
Phone: 503-370-6856
Email: vjhopt@willamette.edu
