When it comes to war, and people’s experiences with it, children’s voices are not always heard.
In his exhibit, “War-Toys: Israel, West Bank, and Gaza Strip,” Brian McCarty interprets children’s drawings to offer insight into how experiences with the Israeli and Palestinian wars affected children.
The exhibit features 18 reproductions of children’s drawings presented alongside 22 of McCarty’s photographs. Featuring locally found toys placed and posed in the actual locations described by the children, the photographs recreate shared fears and witnessed events. In the process of sharing their artwork, children would often reveal the details that were most important or impactful to them.
The exhibit is curated by Catinca Tabacaru, founder of New York-based Tinca Art, Inc. She spent her early career working for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the Office of Chief Defense Counsel for the Military Commissions at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
The Arkansas Women’s Actions for New Directions is a co-sponsor of the reception and lecture event. The event will be held during Arkansas Peace Week in observance of the United Nation’s International Day of Peace.
UALR will host the exhibit Sept. 1 – Oct. 20 in Art Gallery 1. A lecture and reception for McCarty, an internationally exhibited artist and toy industry veteran, will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in the UALR Fine Arts Building.
The UALR Art Gallery is also located in the UALR Fine Arts Building and is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday–Friday. Beginning Sept. 10, the gallery also will be open from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays and 2-5 p.m. on Sundays.
For more information, visit the exhibit’s website or contact Brad Cushman at (501) 569-8977.