Museums at W&L: Fall 2023 Programs and Exhibitions The Museums at W&L invite the public to their opening reception for “Musings” on Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m.

By Emily Innes
August 21, 2023

Mohammad Omer Khalil: Musings

“Musings” – New Exhibition on View @ Watson Galleries | Sept. 28, 2023–June 1, 2024
The Museums at W&L is pleased to present the exhibition “Musings,” a remarkable body of work by Sudanese American artist Mohammad Omer Khalil, a master printmaker, painter and influential teacher whose career spans more than six decades. Khalil’s prints explore the tonality of light and darkness, and combine and layer several techniques, including etching, aquatint, sugar lift, spit bite and photo transfer. These “musings” are often products of long periods of reflection, commemorating the things, people and places that have inspired him.

“Musings” was co-curated by four Washington and Lee undergraduate students as part of the Spring Term 2023 course, “Seminar in Museum Studies,” taught by director of Museums Isra El-beshir. The students, Annabel Symington ’25, Annie Zajicek ’24, Hailey Neaman ’25 and Aislinn Niimi ’24, helped lay the curatorial foundation of the exhibition through direct engagement with Khalil. This exhibit is free and open to the public.

“Musings” Artist Talk @ Northen Auditorium, Leyburn Library | Sept. 28, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
The Museums at W&L invite you to an evening of conversation with master printmaker and painter Mohammad Omer Khalil. The talk will be moderated by co-curators Hailey Neaman ’25 and Aislinn Niimi ’24. The event is free and open to the W&L community and the public.
RSVP encouraged: calendly.com/mwlu/khalil.

“Musings” Opening Reception @ Watson Galleries | Sept. 28, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Join the Museums at W&L for the opening reception for “Musings” following the exhibition’s artist talk. The event is free and open to all members of the W&L community and the public. Food and drink will be provided; identification required for consumption of alcoholic beverages.

We Love Life Whenever We Can

“We Love Life Whenever We Can” – Exhibition on View @ Leyburn Library | April 1–Dec. 8
During Spring Term 2023, the Museums at W&L partnered with the Arab American National Museum to present “We Love Life Whenever We Can,” an exhibit that presents the cultural, historical and political legacies of five dynamic artists of Arab origin. Featuring the artwork of Mary Tuma, John Halaka, Youmna Chlala, Sama Alshaibi and Dena Al-Adeeb, this exhibition was curated by director of Museums Isra El-beshir and Jumana Al-Ahmad, visiting assistant professor of Arabic, in collaboration with Merrill Dowdy ’23.

“We Love Life” Artist Talk @ Northen Auditorium, Leyburn Library | Sept. 25, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
The Museums at W&L invite you to an evening with photographer, multimedia conceptual artist and Regents Professor of photography, video and imaging at the University of Arizona, Sama Alshaibi, who will discuss her work and how she uses art to challenge Western ideas of Eastern cultures. An exhibition of her work, “We Love Life Whenever We Can,” is currently on display in the Leyburn Library.

The free event is open to the public and is co-sponsored by the university’s Middle East and South Asia Studies Program and the Center for International Education. RSVP encouraged: calendly.com/mwlu/sama.

Author Talk @ Stackhouse Theater | Oct. 10, 5-6 p.m.
Evelyn Alsultany, professor of American studies and ethnicity at the University of Southern California, will give an overview of her latest book, “Broken: The Failed Promise of Muslim Inclusion.” Alsultany is a leading expert on the history of representations of Arabs and Muslims in the U.S. media and a Hollywood consultant. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition “We Love Life Whenever We Can,” this event is hosted by the W&L’s Employee Resource Group: Underrepresented Religious, Spiritual, and Cultural Identities, and sponsored by the Museums at W&L, Office of Community-Based Learning, Provost’s Office, Department of Journalism and Mass Communications, Department of History, and Department of Religion.

“And We Love Life: A Short Films Program” @ Stackhouse Theater | Nov. 7, 7 p.m.
Inspired by the current exhibition “We Love Life Whenever We Can,” the Museums at W&L invites you to an evening of contemporary short films by Arab and South Asian filmmakers. A discussion on identity, culture, community and pride will follow the screening. Space is limited and seating will be available on a first come, first served basis. For more information, visit wlu.edu/arts/museums.

Lunch and Learn Lecture Series

Lunch and Learn: Stories of Migration @ Reeves Museum of Ceramics | Select Mondays This Fall, Noon-1 p.m.
The Museums at W&L will host “Lunch and Learn,” a series of short, informal lectures held in the Reeves Museum of Ceramics that explore stories of migration, diaspora and identity. All are welcome, and the Museums will provide a light lunch and refreshments. Seating is limited and RSVP is required. Dates and lecture descriptions are listed below:

• Sept. 11: “Storytelling as Survival in the Immigrant Journey,” presented by Domnica Radulescu, Edwin A. Morris Professor of Comparative Literature. This talk will unfold around Radulescu’s personal experience as an immigrant woman and artist and expand on images and experiences of immigration, exile, refuge-seeking and displacement, connecting with the larger landscape of world migration and diasporic existences. Register at calendly.com/mwlu/radulescu.
• Oct. 2: Stories of Migration with Hafsa Oubou, visiting assistant professor of anthropology. Register at calendly.com/mwlu/lunch-learn-with-hafsaoubou.
• Nov. 6: Stories of Migration with Zoila Ponce de León, assistant professor of politics. Register at calendly.com/mwlu/lunch-learn-with-zoilaponcedeleon.
• Dec. 4: Stories of Migration with Henryatta Ballah, assistant professor of history. Register at calendly.com/mwlu/lunch-learn-with-henryattaballah.