This fall, the historic Rotherwas Room meets contemporary art as the Mead inaugurates its biannual exhibition series, the Rotherwas Project. In "Rotherwas Project 1," the works of Seattle-born artist Amanda Valdez bring a new palette and iconography to the historic oak-paneled room. Influenced by feminism, quilt design, and non-Western as well as Western art, Ms. Valdez combines paint, fabric, and embroidery on canvas to yield abstract forms with undeniable relation to the human body.

Thursday, Sept. 8, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
The Mead unveils its renovated main gallery and opens six new exhibitions and installations that offer a fresh perspective on the Amherst College art collection. All are invited to join Amanda Valdez at the opening, which is followed by a reception.

Friday, Sept. 23, 12 p.m.Amanda Valdez will be on campus for a noon lunchtime conversation that is free and open to the public.