U.VA. MEDIA ADVISORY: Public Unveiling Ceremony of ‘Kings of Freedom’ Art Berlin Wall Installation on U.Va. Grounds

• What: University of Virginia’s official unveiling of “Kings of Freedom” graffiti art on Berlin Wall panels
• When: April 11, 5 p.m.
• Where: The Library Quad, adjacent to Alderman Library and the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia
• Who: Jody Kielbasa, U.Va.’s vice provost for the arts and director of the Virginia Film Festival, will be available for interviews

Last month, the University of Virginia installed part of the Berlin Wall on Grounds. On Friday, the unveiling of the art installation will mark the official opening of a yearlong U.Va. celebration commemorating the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall with extensive supporting academic and artistic programming.

The unveiling of the “Kings of Freedom” graffiti artwork on panels from the Berlin Wall will take place Friday at 5 p.m. in a public ceremony that will include U.Va. President Teresa A. Sullivan and Robert and MeiLi Hefner, who own the panels loaned to U.Va., as well as distinguished alumni and faculty.

The ceremony will be held at the installation site adjacent to Alderman Library and the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library.

The exhibition of the Berlin Wall is being presented by U.Va.’s offices of the President, Executive Vice President and Provost and Vice Provost for the Arts.

Prior to and immediately after the unveiling ceremony. Jody Kielbasa, U.Va.’s vice provost for the arts, will be available for interviews. He can share his thoughts regarding the Berlin Wall panels, the “Kings of Freedom” mural and the U.Va. programming surrounding the global commemorative celebration.

The four panels were delivered to U.Va. and installed on March 10 and 11. A large crane lifted the heavy concrete slabs into its glass-enclosed display.

After its official unveiling, the spray-painted “Kings of Freedom” mural by West German graffiti artist Dennis Kaun – on the west side of the four panels of the Berlin Wall – will be on exhibition throughout 2014.