The Invisible Wall: Photographs by Susana Raab

Posted in News


Miss Elvera Makes Her Entrance, Brothers Place SE, Washington, D.C., 2015.
16×20” Ultrachrome pigment print, edition of 10.

WASHINGTON– The Spagnuolo Art Gallery is proud to announce an exhibition of The Invisible Wall, a series of photographs by local artist Susana Raab. The show will be on view from October 21 – December 6, 2015. There will be an opening reception and Artist’s Talk from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on October 29.

Washington, D.C. is one of the most income-stratified cities in the United States. Its populace includes the country’s wealthiest, highest-educated people along with the poorest and least-educated citizens. In the space between these disparities exists an invisible wall comprised of race and class, a seemingly impenetrable frontier, obfuscated by government policy and physical terrain. The Anacostia River has historically formed a barrier, at times protective, always isolating. This boundary channel has kept Washingtonians from crossing the invisible divide between race and class – and achieving understanding of our shared humanity. Raab seeks to breach this wall through her photographs.

Susana Raab was born in Lima, Peru and raised throughout the United States. She is a fine art and documentary photographer based in Washington, D.C. In addition to creating personal work, she is the official photographer of the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum. She received her MA in Visual Communications at Ohio University and holds a BA in English Literature from James Madison University. Her work is held in collections such as the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History, The Library of Congress, and The Art Museum of the Americas; she is also the recipient of grants such as the White House News Photographers’ Project Grant and a D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities Artist Fellowship.

About the Gallery

The Spagnuolo Art Gallery is the primary exhibition space for the Department of Art and Art History at Georgetown University. Our mission is to exhibit art by working artists, provide a space for student exhibitions, and sponsor educational arts programming in a setting accessible to the university community. We are located in the Walsh Building, 1221 36th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20057. Hours are from Wednesday – Friday 12-7, Saturday 12-5, and Sunday 11-4. The gallery is free and open to the public.

Visit the Artist’s Website

BBC Video Interview