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Then and Now: 1941-2001
December 1, 2001-January 18, 2002
"Then and Now:
1941-2001" showcases works created by 16 Southern artists and photographers
that 
reflect a changing America
during times of war and peace, ranging from the era of Pearl Harbor to the
events of September 11, 2001. This exhibition is presented in tribute by
Southern artists to the events of September 11th as well as to the opening
of the Pacific Theater Wing at the National D-Day Museum on December 7,
2001.
The original concept for this exhibition evolved during a discussion with Benny Andrews on October 6, 2001, while the artist was visiting New Orleans for the opening of his exhibition at the Stella Jones Gallery during Art For Arts' Sake. For almost one full month, Benny and his wife, artist Nene Humphrey, had witnessed and experienced the emerging new realities of life in New York City after the events of September 11th. Already central figures in the evolving "family" of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, they agreed to create new works in response to these issues, works that were to be unveiled in New Orleans. (right: Richard Witt, Farewell, ca. 1943, oil on canvas, 28 x 28 inches)
Soon, as they heard about this concept, other artists asked
or agreed to contribute works, commonly mentioning that they "had to
create" art related to these events, welcoming the opportunity to open
a 
dialogue with New Orleans
art audiences. Frederick Brown, William Dunlap, Christopher Saucedo and
Robert Tannen created original works for this exhibition, as did Arless
Day, whose new work reflects the importance of family, place and memory.
Herman Leonard, Elemore Morgan, Jr., Kendall Shaw, S. J. Staniski and Renée
Stout agreed to present works related to the larger theme of the exhibition,
a changing American (and world) environment in times of war and peace. Many
individual works are being shown for the first time. (left: Benny
Andrews, Disasterscape, detail of cover, 2001, mixed media, 26 5/8
x 41 3/4 inches)
And, as the museum considered the opening of the new Pacific Theater Wing at its neighboring institution, the National D-Day Museum, staff sought to incorporate selected works with a historical focus as well, relating to their understanding of both the era of WWII and the postwar era. Dusti Bongé, Bennie Day, Elemore Morgan, Sr., and Richard Wilt are featured in this section of the exhibition.
Read more articles and essays concerning this institutional source by visiting the sub-index page for the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in Resource Library Magazine
For further biographical information on selected artists cited above please see America's Distinguished Artists, a national registry of historic artists.
This page was originally published in Resource Library Magazine. Please see Resource Library's Overview section for more information. rev. 11/28/11
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