The Spring 2017 Archives and Special Collections gallery exhibition, (Re) Imagining Each Other, explored issues of race and culture through the examination of 19th-century illustrated texts, early 20th-century sculpture and postcards as well as contemporary ritual items from the permanent collections of the William H. Hannon Library’s Archives and Special Collections and the Loyola Marymount University Archaeology Museum.
The objects exhibited in (Re) Imagining Each Other were carefully selected in an attempt to broaden existing binary narratives of Colonized/Colonizer and East/West by focusing on the theme of curiosity. While some of the objects reflect imperialist agendas and offensive, sometimes racist, portrayals of those from foreign lands, they were collected and circulated by individuals who were genuinely curious about the world beyond their own borders. Messages on postcards and in texts reflect such sentiments of superiority and curiosity. The exhibition also included material that exhibit the active ways in which Japan and other nations sought to present themselves to the West in advertisements and at the World’s Fairs as places with distinct and valuable cultures.
(Re) Imagining Each Other was curated by art history students Elizabeth Burton, Yadira Enciso, Julia McArthur, Kaitlyn Morrissey-Braden, Alexandra Rosas-Maxemin, Sophie Rudoff and Diana Vedova as part of their senior thesis project under the guidance of Assistant Professor of Art History Melody Rod-ari and Head of Archives and Special Collections Cynthia Becht.
The exhibition was on display from January 30 through May 12, 2017 in the William H. Hannon Library’s Terrance L. Mahan, S.J. Archives and Special Collections gallery. An opening reception was held on February 9, 2017. The event included an introduction by Melody Rod-ari, Assistant Professor of Art History in LMU's College of Communication and Fine Arts, and a panel discussion by the student curators. The evening concluded with a reception and an opportunity for guests to explore the exhibition in our Archives & Special Collections gallery.
Video on YouTube:
