Commemorating One-Year Anniversary of Beyond Granite on the National Mall

Commemorating One-Year Anniversary of Beyond Granite on the National Mall

One year ago on August 18, the Trust and its partners, artists and curators debuted the inaugural exhibition of Beyond Granite. Timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, the first curated exhibition of its kind in the history of the National Mall was widely acclaimed and seen by 2 million people. Generously supported by the Mellon Foundation, Beyond Granite: Pulling Together shared new stories and perspectives on America's most iconic commemorative space, answering the question: “What stories remain untold on the National Mall?”

 
 

The Trust was proud to lead this exciting project with its partners to steward the National Mall and ensure it remains a vibrant and engaging space for all for future generations.

We invite you to take a look back at the exhibition and its historic impact on America's Front Yard. The Beyond Granite initiative is led by the Trust for the National Mall in partnership with the National Capital Planning Commission and the National Park Service. The Trust for the National Mall is also grateful to the exhibition curators Paul Farber and Dr. Salamishah Tillet for Monument Lab, and to the six extraordinary artists who took part in the exhibit, who you can learn more about here.

Beyond Granite enjoyed a warm reception from visitors, students, art and history scholars, city planners, and public policy experts alike, and received media attention and acclaim. Stay tuned to our newsletter for more about the future of Beyond Granite.

A LOOK BACK | Beyond Granite in the News

CBS Sunday Morning: Art on the Mall / American Diversity on Display
by Faith Sailie

Washington Post: Art on the Mall! They put art on the Mall!
by Philip Kennicott (August 19, 2023)

Axios: New must-see art breaks barriers on the Mall
by Anna Spiegel (August 20, 2023)

American Planning Association: Using Public Space to Expand Storytelling on the National Mall
by Dina Walters (August 28, 2023)

New York Times: On Our National Mall, New Monuments Tell New Stories
by Blake Gopnik (August 17, 2023)