Wisconsin Historical Society: “Markers, Monuments, and Meaning: Change & Community”

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While historical organizations have long grappled with how to interpret difficult or contested histories, recent events have added an increased sense of urgency for communities considering the meaning and message of historical markers, monuments, and statues and the critical issue of representation in our built environment. Join us as we invite a panel of experts on monumental art, public history, and memory to explore how engaging diverse and inclusive perspectives creates opportunities to re-envision and democratize the process of creating, sharing, and evaluating monuments and historical markers.

The panel will be moderated by the Ruth and Hartley Barker Director and CEO of the Wisconsin Historical Society, Christian Øverland, and Kacie Lucchini Butcher, Public History Project Director, UW-Madison. Panelists Ariel Beaujot and Paul M. Farber will share examples of local and national efforts to re-envision monuments, markers, and collective memory projects. Ariel Beaujot, PhD., is a Professor of History at UW-La Crosse and Executive Director of Hear, Here. Paul M. Farber, PhD, Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the Monument Lab, is a curator, historian, and educator from Philadelphia.