Corcoran School to Host Dual Residency Exhibitions

The Corcoran School of the Arts and Design will launch two exhibitions by artists Eric Gottesman and Cannupa Hanska Luger on October 28.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Fine Art

Corcoran School to Host Dual Residency Exhibitions

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The Corcoran School of the Arts and Design will host two new exhibitions featuring works by Eric Gottesman and Cannupa Hanska Luger starting October 28. These exhibitions mark the third and final year of the For Freedoms residency program in Washington.

Why it matters

The residency seeks to deepen civic engagement by placing artists at the center of societal discourse. The featured works examine complex themes including political repression, censorship, and Indigenous sovereignty.

The residency spans a 3-year duration and includes two distinct exhibitions. The Mirror Shield Project, which will be featured, was created 10 years ago and involved the production of 1,000 shields for Standing Rock.

The players

Eric Gottesman

He is a multidisciplinary artist who collaborated on the first authorized English translation of the Ethiopian novel Oromay.

Cannupa Hanska Luger

He is an Indigenous multidisciplinary artist known for large-scale projects that address social and environmental justice.

Corcoran School of the Arts and Design

Located in Washington, this institution serves as the site for the final For Freedoms residency exhibitions.

The details

The exhibitions, titled Night and Day by Eric Gottesman and Reflect by Cannupa Hanska Luger, utilize a mix of photography, video, sculpture, and collaborative workshops. Luger will present an instructional film that demonstrates how communities can construct and transport mirror shields, a design originally released as open source in 2016.

1983 marks the publication year of the novel Oromay by Baalu Girma.
2012 saw the publication of the first authorized translated excerpt of Oromay by Eric Gottesman.
2016 was the year Cannupa Hanska Luger initiated the Mirror Shield Project.
October 28, 2026, is the opening date for the exhibitions at the Corcoran School.
February 19, 2027, is when the exhibitions conclude at the Corcoran School.

Industry Dynamics

The conclusion of the For Freedoms residency program reflects a growing trend in academic and arts institutions to prioritize long-term, civically-engaged artist residencies. This shift highlights how schools are moving beyond temporary displays to integrate artistic research into broader social justice frameworks.

Residents in Washington can attend the opening of the exhibitions on October 28 at the Corcoran School. Visitors will be able to engage with the works through February 19, 2027, including viewing the instructional films and exploring the featured sculptures and photography.

The takeaway

These exhibitions highlight the ongoing utility of art as a tool for navigating political and social history. Visitors should look for the open-source instructional materials provided by the artists to learn more about how art can facilitate community-led responses to social issues.