We Were Here: Reclaiming History Through Art
DATE: Thursday 9/24/26 TIME: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
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The Michener Museum has recently installed a newly commissioned work by Philadelphia artist Roberto Lugo. Permanence: We Were Here is a monumental ceramic vessel that reflects the Michener’s history as the site of a former county jail. The lidded storage jar draws on the color, black-figure, and red-figure traditions of ancient Greek and Roman pottery, blending classical techniques with contemporary storytelling.
The piece incorporates imagery of the Michener’s distinctive architecture, including references to the original stone walls of the jail. At the top of the vessel, a vivid narrative band features drawings inspired by Pine Street Express, a magazine created in the 1970s by individuals incarcerated at the jail through a writing program facilitated by Vita Education Services.
Join us for a special artist lecture in which Roberto Lugo will discuss the inspiration behind this powerful work.
Image Credit: JESSICA GRIFFIN / THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER