Gallery Talk: Gail Rebhan: What Questions Do We Ask?

Artist Gail Rebhan along with AU history Professor M.J. Rymsza-Pawlowska and AU Museum Director Jack Rasmussen, will discuss the exhibition "Gail Rebhan: What Questions Do We Ask?", in a gallery talk scheduled for

Sunday, 2:00- 3:00pm

About the exhibition:

Gail S. Rebhan, Artist

As the nation nears it’s 250th anniversary, What Questions Do We Ask?, artist and photographer Gail Rebhan transforms the language of the US census into a compelling visual record of American history. At the museum entrance, you encounter census questions from 1790 to 2020, revealing how what is asked reflects what a society values, debates, and seeks to understand.

Organized by themes such as race, disability, language, technology, and work, each piece traces how a single line of questioning evolves over time. These shifts point to broader cultural change, showing how census data not only records the population but can also shape public policy and national priorities.

The works layer these questions over an American flag motif, grounding them in a shared national identity while inviting closer scrutiny. Historic census forms serve as visual backdrops, while a mix of government typography and expressive handwriting underscores the passage of time. As you look, patterns and shifts begin to emerge, reflecting an evolving society.

Through this body of work, the artist offers a condensed social history of the United States, asking you to consider how the past informs the present—and how the questions we ask shape what comes next.

The exhibition is timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of Independence on July 4, 2026. It will include this gallery talk on Flag Day, June 14. Viewers are encouraged to ask their own census questions via a QR code on the artist's website. Viewers’ questions will be posted on the website.

This event will be held in-person at the museum.

Please direct any questions about this event to the museum's main contact for this event, Patricia Poku-Speight at [email protected].

Image: Gail Rebhan, What Questions Do We Ask?, 2026. Concept for museum installation.