Anna-Catherine Kueng, Assistant Editor~
Recently, the Daura Art Gallery introduced two new exhibitions, the Newest Americans: Photographs of Recent Immigrants and Chasing Bugs: Insects as Subject and Metaphor.
According to the University of Lynchburg website, the Newest Americans features photos from Los Angeles-based photographer Sam Comden. The exhibition includes portraits of immigrants from various countries who have attained United States citizenship.
Along with the photos, there are quotes from the immigrants describing what it was like to become a citizen and why they came to America. The interviews were conducted and compiled by Michael Estrin.
The other exhibition is Chasing Bugs: Insects as Subject and Metaphor. According to the University of Lynchburg website, it was “organized and circulated by University of Richmond Museums, Virginia and the exhibition is made possible in part with funds from the Louis S. Booth Arts Fund.”
During the month of November, there is also the Daura Gallery Tuesday Night Film Series. These movies are shown at 7:00 p.m. in the Daura Gallery and they relate to the current exhibitions. According to an email sent by the Daura Gallery staff, Arachnophobia will be shown on November 13 and it is a “1990 black comedy horror film about a species of South American killer spider hitching a ride in a coffin bound for rural California.”
To compliment the Newest Americans exhibition, The Citizen will be shown on November 27. This movie is “a gripping tale of courage, love, perseverance, and one man’s dream to become an American citizen and achieve the American Dream.” Both movie showings are free and include popcorn.
On Friday, November 2, the GS100 Freshman Seminar classes visited the Daura Gallery to see the new exhibits and hear from Daura Gallery Director and Associate Professor of Museum Studies, Dr. Barbara Rothermel.
Sarah Johnson, the graduate assistant for First-Year Programs said, “I saw a lot of excitement and curiosity. Most students had never been into the gallery so this was a great first experience. This Friday session was by far my favorite one.” In addition, Johnson explained, “I think it is important for students to learn and talk about history, especially contemporary. The [Newest Americans] exhibit shows history in a contemporary setting.”
Ullunda Veal, a first year student at the university said, “I really enjoyed the whole immigrant exhibit part of it. I have friends that immigrated to America and seeing all these different cultures and ethnicities proved to me how diverse America is becoming.”
Veal noted that her favorite immigration story was about a, “Girl was from Russia and her quote was saying how America provided her with a lot of freedoms she didn’t have in Russia. It made me think how we are privileged to live in a place where we have freedoms.”
The Daura Gallery is located in the Dillards Fine Arts building and it is opened Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., however it will be closed over Thanksgiving Break. Admission is free.
The Newest Americans and Chasing Bugs exhibitions will be on display until December 7.