FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2026
Some Birthday, America: Tracy Weisman’s unflinching examination of national identity and responsibility
during the 250th anniversary of the United States
The exhibition features conceptual mixed media works that draw from personal and collective narratives
about the country’s current sociopolitics
Tracy Weisman, Some Birthday, America, 2026, textile: cotton American flag, zippers, 48 × 72 in
Newport, RI – CUSP Gallery presents Some Birthday, America, a new solo exhibition by multi-disciplinary artist Tracy Weisman, featuring conceptual mixed media works that act as an unflinching reflection on the United States during its 250th anniversary. The exhibition is on view June 27 – July 19, 2026, with an opening reception on June 27th, from 5:00 – 8:00 PM.
Drawing from Weisman’s long-standing engagement with visual metaphor, textiles and found materials, the work in Some Birthday, America examines inheritance, responsibility, and national identity at a time of monumental change. With its overt political commentary, the exhibition occupies a space between affection and unease. The mixed media works range from a presidential “portrait” composed of various four letter words and a vintage fishing net containing local quahog shells stamped with historical quotes to an American flag cut and stitched with golden zippers and a flag collaged out of name patches from workers’ uniforms. These familiar symbols are recontextualized with precision and sarcasm, suggesting a nation shaped as much by individual choices as by historic proclamations.
Throughout the work in the exhibition, collaged surfaces, disrupted seams and unexpected materials reference historic craft traditions while carrying a psychological and moral weight that extends beyond the personal. The works read as individual stories and ask viewers to slow down and contemplate their own place in America’s narrative.
Weisman’s exhibition features a fundraiser inspired by George Washington’s 1790 letter to the congregation of Newport’s Touro Synagogue (within walking distance from CUSP Gallery) in which he promised that the new country would give “…to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.” Those words, replicated on hundreds of scavenged local quahog shells, adorn a vintage fishing net, a nod to Rhode Island’s motto “The Ocean State.” The sale of the shells —plus other handmade patriotic ornaments—will benefit Newport’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, a central service provider to at-risk individuals, families and seniors.
Weisman grew up in Rhode Island and participated in the nation’s bicentennial in 1976. She recalls the communal sense of pride watching historical tall ships sailing into Newport Harbor, a sharp contrast with her feelings about this year’s 250th anniversary. Some Birthday, America is her attempt to bridge the delta between 1976 and now, between the intimate and the collective, reminding viewers that the future of our proud yet fragile democracy rests entirely in our hands.
Tracy Weisman, Four-Letter Words, 2026, mixed media: acrylic on canvas, netting, vintage French tin sign letters, 33 x 45in
Exhibition Details
Some Birthday, America
On view: June 27 – July 19, 2026
Opening reception: June 27th, 5:00 – 8:00 PM
CUSP Gallery
51 Touro St
Newport, RI 02840
About Tracy Weisman
Tracy Weisman is an interdisciplinary artist and visual storyteller whose work explores identity, vulnerability, American symbolism, and the emotional tension between attachment and disillusionment. Rooted in her background as a professional speechwriter, Weisman’s practice is shaped by a deep engagement with narrative, persuasion, public language, and the ways national myths are constructed and communicated. Working across textiles, sculpture, installation, and mixed media, she often transforms familiar cultural objects through processes of stitching, alteration, accumulation, and physical disruption.
Her practice draws equally from contemporary art methodologies, craft traditions, and vernacular Americana, resulting in a body of work that resists categorization. Her work emphasizes emotional resonance and material transformation, balancing conceptual rigor with physical immediacy, and reflecting on contemporary America through both personal and collective experience. Rather than offering fixed political conclusions, the work explores emotionally charged themes by inviting viewers into a space of reflection, discomfort, contradiction, and empathy.
Weisman’s current body of work and upcoming exhibition, Some Birthday, America, examines American identity and national mythology on the cusp of the country’s 250th anniversary. Her work was recently included in Unseen, a 2025 Tribeca exhibition featuring 14 international artists celebrating the resilience of North Korean women during UN Week. The exhibition introduced a global audience to her materially driven approach to social and psychological themes. Weisman has exhibited throughout the United States, and her work is included in several collections, including the private collection of a former cabinet secretary in the Obama administration and the permanent collection of Chicago Sinai Congregation
She lives and maintains studio practices in both Palm Springs, CA, and Narragansett, RI.
Website: https://www.tracyweisman.com
Instagram: @tracyweisman
About CUSP Gallery
CUSP Gallery, named after artist and owner Curtis Speer’s initials, embodies the essence of an “emerging” artist prepared for a transformative journey. The gallery’s core mission revolves around providing emerging artists with a platform to exhibit their work and take bold creative strides. Curtis Speer’s personal journey, marked by a pivotal experience in Provincetown, MA, led to the establishment of CUSP Gallery in 2017. From its inception, CUSP has been a beacon for artists seeking to showcase their talent, offering curated exhibitions and guidance in the exhibition process. Curtis’s distinctive approach to his own art goes beyond the visual realm; it’s about creating a tactile experience for his audience. His prints, crafted with meticulous attention to detail, invite viewers to engage intimately with his art. This connection between the viewer and the artwork blurs the lines between photography and painting, inviting contemplation and introspection. Over the years, his CUSP Gallery has grown into a dynamic space for this kind of artistic exploration, featuring themed group exhibits and forging partnerships with local artists and designers. This evolution has transformed CUSP into a vibrant hub for provocative visual art and public installations. As CUSP enters its 10th and final year, the gallery remains committed to nurturing emerging talents, exploring new possibilities, and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression.
Website: https://www.cuspgallery.com