Spring Break
Photographer's Work On Display at Benton Museum
Will Ruggiero
Issue date: 8/31/05 Section: Focus
The William Benton Museum of Art is starting the year strong featuring the professional photography of Adam Nadel. The exhibit, entitled "If My Eyes Speak", centers around the devastating effect that genocide and terrorism has on the general population.
"This exhibit focuses on the survivors of the violence," said museum director Salvatore Scalora. "It's all about civilians who are caught helplessly in the midst of a war not of their choosing. The dead bodies are not the only way to count causalities, so many are scarred permanently both emotionally and psychologically."
The exhibit focuses on four incidents of world violence. Included are the genocide in Rwanda, the Srebrenica massacre of 1995 in Bosnia, the current ethnic cleansing in Darfur, Sudan and the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center.
Nadel spent time in all four areas interviewing victims and observing the situation first hand. The 34 photos are accompanied by actual quotes from the subjects. Each quote acts as a window into the thoughts of the victim.
"This is a really effective technique," said Danielle Duquette, a 1st-semester undecided major. "You can really read the pain on their faces. It is an intense exhibit that really allows you to connect personally with the subject."
"The issue remains that civilians are more at risk now than they have ever been," Scalora said. "Ninety percent of war related causalities starting in 1990 have been civilian. It's an important issue that we need to be aware of."
"If My Eyes Speak" is the second exhibit being featured in the Benton Human Rights Gallery and will be on display through Oct. 18. The Benton Museum is hosting an opening reception for all fall exhibits on Sept. 8 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The reception will include live music, refreshments and an appearance by Nadel. Admission is free.
"This exhibit focuses on the survivors of the violence," said museum director Salvatore Scalora. "It's all about civilians who are caught helplessly in the midst of a war not of their choosing. The dead bodies are not the only way to count causalities, so many are scarred permanently both emotionally and psychologically."
The exhibit focuses on four incidents of world violence. Included are the genocide in Rwanda, the Srebrenica massacre of 1995 in Bosnia, the current ethnic cleansing in Darfur, Sudan and the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center.
Nadel spent time in all four areas interviewing victims and observing the situation first hand. The 34 photos are accompanied by actual quotes from the subjects. Each quote acts as a window into the thoughts of the victim.
"This is a really effective technique," said Danielle Duquette, a 1st-semester undecided major. "You can really read the pain on their faces. It is an intense exhibit that really allows you to connect personally with the subject."
"The issue remains that civilians are more at risk now than they have ever been," Scalora said. "Ninety percent of war related causalities starting in 1990 have been civilian. It's an important issue that we need to be aware of."
"If My Eyes Speak" is the second exhibit being featured in the Benton Human Rights Gallery and will be on display through Oct. 18. The Benton Museum is hosting an opening reception for all fall exhibits on Sept. 8 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The reception will include live music, refreshments and an appearance by Nadel. Admission is free.