The finest artist biographies stay with us, continuously altering our perspective on the creator and their life. But what form would the biography of a mountain take? This question inspired author Matthew Davis to explore one of the most significant symbols of American nationalism: Mount Rushmore, also known by its original Lakota name, Tȟuŋkášila Šákpe or Six Grandfathers.
This exploration resonates with the inquiries that led Irvin Weathersby Jr., a scholar and author, to travel to monuments throughout the United States for his forthcoming book, In Open Contempt: Confronting White Supremacy in Art and Public Space (2025). Weathersby Jr. offers his own insights in his critique of Davis’s innovative take on art history and monumentalism.
Simultaneously, scholar Sarah Bond examines the much-needed transformation in museums as they address polychromy and the fallacy of whiteness. Their reflections offer a novel perspective on these monuments and challenge us to reconsider the narratives we construct around them.
