Gallery Talk: What Questions Do We Ask?

On Sunday, June 14 (Flag Day), the American University Museum presents a gallery talk tied to artist Gail Rebhan's installation *What Questions Do We Ask?*. The talk features Rebhan alongside AU history professor M.J. Rymsza-Pawlowska, who together examine how the language used in the US Census has evolved over time—and how that language reveals shifting ideas about identity, citizenship, labor, race, and belonging. Rebhan’s installation, located at the museum’s entrance, layers historic census forms with American flag imagery and changing government terminology, transforming raw data into a powerful visual history of the United States. This discussion offers a timely and thought-provoking exploration of how official categories and documents shape our understanding of who counts and who belongs.

When: Sunday, June 14, 2026, 2:00–3:00 p.m.

Tickets: This event is free and open to the public, but advance reservation is required (reserve your spot for the June 14 event via the museum’s registration system).

Lineup: Artist/photographer Gail Rebhan and AU history professor M.J. Rymsza-Pawlowska.

Venue: American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, Washington, DC. The talk takes place in the gallery alongside Rebhan’s installation.

Note: This gallery talk is part of the museum’s Summer 2026 exhibition season. The talk coincides with Flag Day, adding symbolic resonance to the discussion of flag imagery in the installation. For questions about the event, contact Patricia Edwine-Poku (Gallery Talks) or Brittany Lester (Museum Events).