“Anybody” - Embalming & Autopsy Series, 1974

An International Exhibition Curated by Claudia Flynn and Troy West.

October 7 – November 11, 2006, Opening Reception: Saturday, October 7, 6 – 8 pm

SYMPOSIUM ON WAGING PEACE: United Nations Day, October 24,6 – 8 pm Moderated by Anne Rocheleau,Director of Spaces for Peace

This exhibition aims to inspire, raise controversies, raise consciousness, and influence political change. With works selected by curators Claudia Flynn and Troy West, showcasing work from 26 established and emerging artists living in the USA, and as far reaching as India, Honduras, Italy and Indonesia. Waging Peace, the third in a series of politically charged exhibitions at Hera Gallery co-curated by Rhode Island – based artists Claudia Flynn and Troy West, emerges on the scene with poignant timing. The diversity of work from the 26 artists selected for this exhibition illustrates the breadth of tumultuous current events and issues the politically concerned artist has to speak on. Some works approach the issue of peace by demanding that the viewer recognize the disharmony in the outside world, in our communities and with in our own minds, while others muster hope, planting the creative seeds of optimism. With the rising of each artist’s personal voice, Waging peace creates a collective call to action.

An aggressive stance on a particular issue relating to peace and its counterpart- war, is the traveling installation sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee, which will be on view at the gallery for one day on Oct 24, United Nations Day. This installation Dreams and Nightmares, documents the daily suffering of the average Iraqi citizen. Larger than life black and white photographs printed on vinyl, loom above eye level, forcing the viewer to gaze up to a series of graphic and emotional image human suffering. On one panel a young girls stares through hot tears, enveloped in dust filled air as a backdrop of destroyed homes, and buildings sifts to the surface. This work presents the real faces of war, fleshing out the dry news reports and daily assessments of the ongoing battle in Iraq. With strength and volume this work questions, Is this something we support?

Other works, like that of noted NYC photographer Donald Greenhaus, assume equally aggressive interpretations of waging peace. Taken from 1974 series entitled Anybody, Greenhaus photographed the process of autopsy and embalming. Price Tag, the toned gelatin silver print image confronts the viewer with a gruesome image of a toe tag attached to the wrinkled foot of an anonymous dead person. Though this photograph was taken three decades ago, the image re-emerges with a contemporary message. In his artist statement he quotes the statistics of US military fatalities in Iraq, juxtaposed with the far greater number of Iraqis killed. Greenhaus writes, These numbers are the only things that grow everyday.