Graduate students at the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design, part of George Washington University, have created an interactive exhibition titled “American Made” to commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary. The exhibit, on view at the Luther W. Brady Art Gallery until May 14, combines 21 traditional artworks from GW’s collection—including photographs, pottery, and textiles—with interactive elements such as a touchscreen map and audio components. The project was developed collaboratively by students in museum studies and interactive design programs, led by professors Laura Schiavo and Sam Shelton, as part of the school’s annual NEXT Festival. Featured works include Patricia Kennedy-Zafred’s contemporary quilt “Tagged,” which addresses the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.
The exhibition matters because it reframes the nation’s semiquincentennial not as a fixed celebration but as an “unfinished story,” encouraging visitors to confront complex chapters of American history. By integrating traditional museum objects with digital interactivity, the student-led project models a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to curatorial practice that prioritizes audience engagement and critical reflection. It also highlights how academic institutions can use milestone anniversaries to foster nuanced public dialogue about national identity and collective memory.