MFA|EDA Thesis Season Debuts a New Generation of Documentary Artists
"The MFA|EDA thesis season annually offers us a window into the transformational vision of a new generation of documentary artists." See work by fourteen graduating students starting March 16 around Duke and Durham.

Fourteen Exhibition, Installations, and Screenings by the Class of 2020
In order to minimize health and safety risks from COVID-19 to our patrons, the larger community, and Duke students, faculty, and staff, Duke University has adopted new policies on spring semester classes, residential life, travel, events, and campus visitors.
In keeping with the university’s directives, we are cancelling public events at the Rubenstein Arts Center through April 20, including MFA|EDA events.
The MFA EDA program will be sharing updates to its planned exhibitions and installations soon. More information.
Starting March 16, Duke University’s MFA in Experimental and Documentary Arts celebrates the artists of the class of 2020 in the program’s annual thesis exhibition.
“The MFA|EDA 2020 thesis show and the stories it tells spans geographies from the most local to the global, art work from the intimate and personal to the deeply political, told across mediums of audio, photography, film, performance, and installation. The MFA|EDA thesis season annually offers us a window into the transformational vision of a new generation of documentary artists.”
—Tom Rankin, director of the MFA|EDA program and professor of the practice of art and documentary
Exhibitions, installations, and screenings will be presented around campus, in downtown Durham at the Power Plant Gallery, NorthStar Church of the Arts, Full Frame Theater, and at Cassilhaus. This year the Rubenstein Arts Center is also supporting three installations and five events.
In Rankin’s words: “The diversity of exhibitions and screenings are not to be missed.”

MFA|EDA Thesis Season in the Ruby
Exhibition & Screenings
Fati Abubakar
African in America
Rubenstein Arts Center, Gallery 235
On view March 30–April 11
Michael Betts II
Revolutionary Teaching: An Experiment in Art and Learning
Rubenstein Arts Center, The Agora
On view March 16–April 11
Jing Cai
Xuefeng Temple
Full Frame Theater
Reception: March 27, 6:00pm
Premiere Screening: March 27, 7:30pm
Encore Screening: April 11, 2:30pm
Cici Cheng
How to Build a Home
Power Plant Gallery
On view March 16–April 17
Lauren Henschel
Fibers of Being
Duke Sculpture Studio
Reception and Exhibit: March 28, 8–10pm
*One Night Only*
Cassandra Klos
By No Other Name
Cassilhaus
On view March 30–May 10
Zaire McPhearson
A Fall from Grace
NorthStar Church of the Arts
On view March 26–Apr 17
Alex Morelli
A Good Bad Guy
Full Frame Theater
Premiere Screening: March 29, 4pm
Reception: March 29, 5:30pm
Encore Screening: April 11, 4pm
Minh Hoang Nguyen
Lullaby for the 49th Day
Fredric Jameson Gallery
On view March 30–April 10
Bishop Romero Ortega
Kill the Indian, Save the Man: Stories from the Uniformed
Louise Jones Brown Gallery
On view March 16–March 31
Alanna Styer
A Prairie, Not a Promise
Power Plant Gallery + Full Frame Theater
On view March 16–April 17
Reception: March 16, 5–8pm
Premiere Screening: March 16, 7pm
Encore Screening: April 11, 2:30pm
Iliana Sun
When We Say Vaquitas, What Are We Talking About
Fredric Jameson Gallery
On view March 16–27
Will Warasila
Quicker than Coal Ash
Rubenstein Arts Center, Gallery 235
On view March 16–27
Mao Wei
Manual City
Power Plant Gallery
On view March 16–April 17