Art at Bennington in Conversation—Fall 2026
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC | A series of Tuesday evening talks and events featuring Bennington faculty and alumni discussing their work and the arts at Bennington. These talks are intended to highlight faculty scholarship and creative practice, foster cross-disciplinary and cross-medium conversations, reflect on pedagogy, and explore what makes Bennington distinctive. All lectures begin at 7:00 pm. Events are free and open to the public.
Tuesday, September 15—Judith Belzer '78
Tuesday, October 20—Elena Demyanenko
Tuesday, October 27—Donald Sherefkin, faculty emeritus
Tuesday, November 10—Elizabeth Smith
J Blackwell '95's recent works are called Neveruses (never•uses). Neveruses are lumpish, androgynous painting-objects comprised of scavenged plastic bags and colored fibers such as wool yarn and silk thread. These hybrid devices are neither useful nor redundant, although both are implied.
Russian-born Elena Demyanenko MFA '22 is a dance artist, choreographer, improviser, dance filmmaker, and educator with over 30 years of national and international touring experience, including performances with the Stephen Petronio Company and the Trisha Brown Dance Company. Her current choreographic work probes “impossible” scores/interferences to un-censor the body while examining the politics of attention, interconnectivity, and the recomposition of desire and its power.
Donald Sherefkin is an architect whose projects range from urban loft renovations to rural retreats to sacred spaces, extending from the heart of New York City to New England.
