Celebrating Ming Smith - Art, Words, and Sound

The Gund at Kenyon College is honored to host a three-day symposium dedicated to the work and legacy of Ming Smith, inviting students, artists, writers, and musicians to explore themes of collaboration, creative expression, and interdisciplinary dialogue. This celebratory event invites contributors from diverse creative disciplines to respond to the exhibition and to engage in thoughtful dialogue about how Smith’s practice influences musical and literary expression. The programs will celebrate Ming Smith's impact on art, photography, and community engagement, underscoring the unique potential of collaborative practices in art and education. Each day of the symposium offers a thematic focus, allowing us to delve deeper into modes of collaboration, expression, and interdisciplinary connection that define Smith's impact on art and community. We warmly invite everyone to join us for this enriching experience. Together, we will think collaboratively, learn in dialogue, and share in the camaraderie of friends and creative thought partners. To create an inclusive atmosphere, we encourage all participants to engage respectfully and openly, valuing diverse perspectives and contributions.

Schedule of Events:

Thursday, November 14: Responding to Ming Smith: A Symphony of Student Voices

The opening day is devoted to our students, who will explore their interpretations of Ming Smith's work through the lens of creativity and collaboration. The symposium opens with student-focused sessions featuring readings by members of the Black Feminist Collective and Creative Writing students presenting ekphrastic readings inspired by Smith’s work. A jazz combo led by Professor Matt Paetsch and a special late-night session with Kenyon’s Sisterhood student group and Photography Club will allow students to enjoy Smith’s work in a convivial atmosphere.

11:00 AM - Readings by Students in Creative Writing with Professors Andrew Grace and Ira Sukrungruang

4:00 PM - Kenyon Jazz Combo, led by Professor Matt Paetsch, followed by a presentation of Harmony Holiday's The Last Black Stage by the Black Feminist Collective.

7:00 PM - Late Night at The Gund hosted by Gund Associates, Sisterhood, and the Photography Club

Friday, November 15: In a Ming Smith State of Mind: Collaborations Unbound

On the second day of the symposium, we invite artists, writers, and thinkers to share in the spirit of collaboration that the exhibition has inspired. We’ll introduce the Fall issue of the Kenyon Review, which marks a historic partnership between The Gund and the literary journal, which is underscored by the shared effort to explore and highlight the generative intersections between literature and art. The issue features a unique cover by Ming Smith and an images folio with an introduction by Daisy Desrosiers, The David and Francie Horvitz Family Foundation Director and Chief Curator of The Gund. The evening will start with remarks from Kenyon Review editor Nicole Dutton, celebrating both Smith’s career and the Kenyon Review’s 85th anniversary. The evening will also include a distinguished keynote lecture by Alicia Knock, esteemed curator at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Knock's address will focus on her upcoming exhibition Paris Noir, presented in March 2025 at the Centre Pompidou, which includes works by Ming Smith.

4:00 PM - Introduction to the Kenyon Review collaboration with Ming Smith and editor Nicole Dutton

5:00 PM - Keynote Speaker, Alicia Knock, Curator at the Centre Pompidou

Saturday, November 16: Between Visuals, Sound, and Words: An Interdisciplinary Reverie

The symposium's final day invites participants to experience the rich interplay between images, sound, and words. With a focus on dialogue and reflection, this day features powerful readings and discussions highlighting the connections between different forms of expression. Guests and program contributors will explore the intersections between images and words with a morning conversation featuring long-time collaborators and friends Jonna Twigg (artist and Collection-care consultant) and Ming Smith. This session will be followed by a reading by one of Ming Smith’s favorite award-winning authors, Jacqueline Woodson, and a Q&A. The day culminates with a reading by poet and essayist Hanif Abdurraqib, known for his poignant reflections on music and culture, followed by an in-depth conversation between artists Marcus Morris, Iyana Hill, and Ky Smiley, artists inspired by Smith’s photography legacy. The conversation will also feature photography curator and Chair of Modern and Contemporary at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Casey Riley. A jazz ensemble and solo saxophone performance by Professor Ross Feller, titled A Joyful Noise, will bring the symposium to a soulful close, paying homage to Smith's enduring connection to music and sound.

10:00 AM - Conversation with Ming Smith and Jonna Twigg, artist, collection specialist and collaborator to the Jazz Requiem exhibition

11:00 AM - Reading by author Jacqueline Woodson

1:00 PM - Reading by author Hanif Abdurraqib

2:00 PM - Conversation with emerging artists, Marcus Morris, Iyana Hill, and Ky Smiley, moderated by Casey Riley, Chair of Global Contemporary Art and Curator of Photography & New Media at Minneapolis Institute of Art

3:00 PM - Closing celebration with Kenyon Jazz ensemble and solo saxophone performance by Professor Ross Feller