Page 6 - Boca Club News - June '24

Page 6, Boca Club News
Boca Museum of Art’s New Photo Exhibit:

“Myths, Secrets, Lies and Truths”

The Boca Raton Museum of Art’s new photography Karen Graffeo’s to attack peaceful
exhibit, Myths, Secrets, Lies and Truths: Photography Cuba series is part of marchers with batons
from the Doug McCraw Collection (on view now through an ongoing project and tear gas, after
October 13th, features the work of five artists: Sheila Pree expressing the beauty the marchers crossed
Bright, Liesa Cole, Karen Graffeo, Spider Martin and Hank and inventiveness of a Edmund Pettus
Willis Thomas. The exhibition of 100+ works from the culture experiencing Bridge from Selma
Doug McCraw Collection is an original presentation by many challenges, into Dallas County.
the Museum, and was curated by Kathleen Goncharov, the hardships and poverty. She photographs moments of The incident was
Museum’s Senior Curator. everyday life in Cuba with an eye to the vibrant designs, pivotal in the Civil Rights Movement, and is known as
The works explore themes of survival, exposure, colors, patterns and textures that reflect the unique spirit Bloody Sunday.
concealment, exploitation, race and cultural-defining design. and aesthetics of the islanders. Three of Martin’s photographs from that day in
They include still photography and installations, capturing Hank Willis Thomas 1965 were enlarged to serve as the centerpiece for this
moments that transcend boundaries of insight, and reveal is known for exploring exhibition, providing a powerful large-scale emphasis
how fabricated myths can shape our perceptions and distort American consume r that expresses the drama of this critical moment in history.
our beliefs. culture and the history of Dr. King himself credited his photos with playing a major
Doug McCraw is the co-founder of one of South how corporate imagery role in passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, stating:
Florida’s cultural gems, the FATVillage Arts District, which in advertising campaigns “Spider, we could have marched, we could have protested
promotes creativity, artist residences, exhibitions, research showed a lack of respect forever, but if it weren’t for guys like you, it would have
and education. “Myths, Secrets, Lies and Truths presents five towards African Americans been for nothing. The whole world saw your pictures.
distinct voices that delve into and illuminate so many aspects through the years via print That’s why the Voting Rights Act passed.” – Martin Luther
of life,” says Irvin Lippman, the Executive Director of the advertisements. His series King, 1965
Boca Raton Museum of Art. “Our thanks to Doug McCraw investigates the subtle and Liesa Cole’s photographs, projections and installations
who has built an extraordinary and stimulating collection that not so subtle ways in which are about those who
will facilitate insightful conversations.” this influential imagery share secrets and those
About the Works in this Exhibition. reinforced ideas about race and race relations. When who keep them. Her
Sheila Pree Bright presents looking at these works, the viewer quickly experiences a works follow the theme
works from her Young Americans mind-twist when realizing that Thomas did not actually that most people are
series, in which she invited take these photos. Instead, he has appropriated the uncomfortable sharing
young people of all backgrounds images from outdated magazine pages and removed all secrets unless they
and in cities across the country of the wording, product names, slogans and logos from know they can trust
to pose with the flag in ways each ad, keeping only the original photos. This makes someone to keep their
that felt comfortable, while the images stand out even more. The end result is a confidence. Visitors
recording their personal stories reimagined version of each original ad, showing how will hear anonymous people telling secrets that can be
of what the flag means to each white ad executives at the time got away with creating funny, tragic, ridiculous, surprising, or sometimes raw
of them. Bright wanted this these depictions for marketing campaigns. and visceral.
series to focus on diverse young Spider Martin was an acclaimed newspaper The exhibition also features “Truth” (a blown glass
Americans who are new to the photojournalist known for his iconic photographs taken neon sculpture by Cole); her video titled “This is Life;”
voting system, and who are still exploring ideas of what it during the 1960s Civil Rights movement. Martin’s historic several archival photographs printed on metal; a projection
means to be American. In some ways, this series by Bright images from the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March video titled “Sharing Secrets;” and an installation room of
may be the most timely of the exhibition, due to the impending documented protests by African Americans demanding the foam and metal, titled “Secrets Room.”
elections and the pivotal youth vote. Museumgoers will hear right to vote. While working as a young new photojournalist These artists’ works have been exhibited, and won
audio recordings alongside each photo, recordings of her at The Birmingham News, Martin captured the historic awards, around the world—from Spain to Paris, Hong
subjects expressing their personal feelings toward the flag. photo, Two Minute Warning, showing state troopers about Kong, the Netherlands and elsewhere.

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