"UP FROM THE PEOPLE: PROTEST AND CHANGE IN DC"

Ongoing conversations with the local D.C. community shaped “Up from the People: Protest and Change in D.C.,” an exhibition at the MLK Library.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington D.C. was the first major public venue to carry the name of the famed civil rights leader. Envisioned as part of a recent renovation of the building, our installation tells the important but not widely known story of civil rights activism in Washington: King’s involvement in the capital city, the influence of local advocates and organizers, and the legacy of action for social change.

The design team worked with the Library to bring in community voices and create a space that rang true to residents while also providing a platform for ongoing expression. The gallery incorporates collection displays, custom-made media, and opportunities for public discourse. Interactive tables allow visitors to learn from one another and to connect the past to the present. A community gallery displays artifacts from local residents that relate personal narratives of cultural and political history.

The scheme respects the framework and aesthetic of the original building, designed by Mies van der Rohe, maintaining sightlines that bring natural light to the core. An armature of black aluminum framing creates pavilions that integrate graphics, media, audio, and artifacts from the library’s collections. Numerous opportunities for storytelling bring visitors into dialogue with history, emphasize the power of their voices and actions, and create a welcoming and inclusive place for D.C. locals.

Project Info

Location
Washington, DC

Completion
2021

Client
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Washington, D.C.

Collaborators
Media Design: Bluecadet
Graphic Design: Workhorse
Community Engagement: Openbox
Content Development: Colloqate 
Fabricator: Kubik Maltbie

Photographer
Dan King