Spirit of Independence
In Spirit of Independence, Sheryl Oring asks: “What does independence mean to you?” Visitors share their thoughts while she types them verbatim on a vintage typewriter, creating carbon copies - one for the participant, one for the exhibition and her archive. Spirit of Independence is being presented in multiple locations around the United States in in 2026 to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and founding of the country. Together with presenting organizations including Crystal Bridges Musuem of American Art, Oring is also working with K-12 teachers to integrate this project into classrooms.
At Crystal Bridges, Spirit of Independence was featured in the museum’s exhibition America 250: Common Threads. Oring performed Spirit of Independence on multiple occasions, typing messages for hundreds of museum visitors and then incorporating these texts into the exhibition.
Spirit of Independence was first presented in Venice, Italy, as part of PORCH: An Architecture of Generosity, the official U.S. Pavilion exhibition for the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale in 2025. This was one of two participatory art projects developed by Oring that invited the public to reflect on the values, rights, and responsibilities that shape civic life. Timed to coincide with U.S. national holidays - Independence Day and Labor Day - these works create space for dialogue about freedom and work.
Oring was invited to perform at PORCH Fest by co-commissioners Peter B. MacKeith and Susan Chin and curator Cynthia Post Hunt of The Momentary and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Together with What We Work For, presented at PORCH Fest over Labor Day, the projects investigate what we inherit, what we contribute, and what we strive for through the intimate act of sitting down with the artist on the PORCH, speaking one’s truth, and having it set into words, one keystroke at a time.
Spirit of Independence was also presented at McColl Center in Charlotte, NC, in fall 2025; at the College Art Association conference in Chicago in February 2026; and in Kettering, Ohio, in July 2026, presented by Rosewood Arts Center and the City of Kettering, with support from the Charles F. Kettering Foundation and the America 250-Ohio Commission.
As a part of the Spirit of Independence project in Ohio, Oring led an intimate, hands-on workshop focused on transforming community voices into letterpress posters. Participants began with Oring’s signature typewriter engagement, reflecting on the meaning of independence and sharing responses that were transcribed. From these conversations, each participant selected a key phrase or statement to be translated into a poster made with letterpress printing.
Working alongside local artist and designer Réka Juhász, participants designed their poster and printed it using traditional letterpress techniques. Each person took home a finished poster, and one copy from every participant will be included in an exhibition at Rosewood Arts Center.