Visions of Conflict Exhibition

In light of the anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, The Robert and Elaine Stein Galleries presented the exhibition Visions of Conflict, a compilation of photographs. on display from October 18-November 15, 2015. The exhibition was curated by Benjamin J. Montague, Associate Professor of Art and included work by four photographers who create work in response to conflict and war. Ziyah Gafić, Louie Palu, Jessica Hines, and Larry Price were the photographers featured in the exhibition and each offered different techniques, styles, sizes, and printing of photography. Artist talks were given by Gafić (October 18th) and Palu (October 30th) followed by Q&As and receptions. Both artist talks and receptions drew in many people with a variety of questions for the artists.

The pieces in Ziyah Gafić’s series “Quest for Identity” were all photographs of items that belonged to people who were vicitms of genocide in Bosnia. These items were found in mass grave and were catalogued in hopes of returning the items to family members. Gafić photographed the items and printed them on square PVC plaques, he included 72 small pieces and 4 large pieces. In “Garmisir Marines” Louie Palu featured large formal portraits of soldiers returning from patrol in Afghanistan. Palu invited the viewer to experience conflict through the expressions on the faces of the soldiers. Larry Price’s “Redemption Songs” were portraits of adults from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who were survivors of conflict as child soldiers and women trapped in the sex trade. Price’s images share stories of hope and perseverance. Jessica Hines formed the series of images “My Brother’s War” based off of the experiences her brother had during the Vietnam War and how those experiences reflected on her.

Visions of Conflict attracted a total of 1,254 visitors in four weeks, with an average of 313 people visiting per week. Many Wright State Art and Art History classes visited to do projects, papers, and reports involving the exhibition. A good number of the public visited the show as well. The exhibition was a good addition to the peace talks and activities that were happening and have been happening in Dayton and all around the world. It gave people a visual representation of the tragedies of war and conflict and why the world needs peace and.

Source: http://liberal-arts.wright.edu/art-galleries/exhibitions