ARTS & CULTURE
Text and photos courtesy of Historic Cane Hill
A Glimpse Into the Past
Black-and-white photos from the 1930s come to life on the walls of Historic Cane Hill’s gallery
Historic Cane Hill presents Arkansas Portraits: Black-and-White Photographs from the Farm Security Administration Collection, 1935-1938. This exhibition features 24 black-and-white photographs taken in Arkansas during the height of the Great Depression. These photographs, many of which were selected from Patsy Watkins’ book It’s All Done Gone, Arkansas Photographs from the Farm Security Administration Collection, 1935-1943, are reprinted from the Farm Security Administration Office of War Information Photograph Collection in the Library of Congress.
This curation features work by celebrated photographers Ben Shahn, Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Carl Mydans, Russell Lee and Arthur Rothstein. The majority of photographs in the exhibition were taken in the Arkansas Ozarks, with the remainder taken in counties across Arkansas. These images have been printed and framed expressly for this exhibition and have never before been hung in this particular curation for the public to experience.
“I realized this exhibition concept would be a great fit for our gallery after discovering Watkins’ wonderful book,” said Lawrence McElroy, director of arts and culture at Historic Cane Hill. “The opportunity to showcase an exhibition that combines components of rural Arkansas history with fine art furthers our organization’s mission. Watkins’ thorough research made the development of the exhibition an easy and enjoyable task.”
The exhibition space in the gallery will include educational panels that provide information about the FSA and the project’s history. Additional panels will include biographies of the featured photographers. A display of cameras representing the same makes and models used by the photographers will also be included.
The exhibition opens with a reception at 6 p.m. on Aug. 13. The reception is free to attend and open to all. Arkansas Portraits will be open to the public during gallery hours, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, or by appointment, from Aug. 13 through Oct.17.
Historic Cane Hill will host author Patsy Watkins on Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. in the Cane Hill College Building. Watkins’ book, published in 2018 by the University of Arkansas Press, is a photojournalism book featuring 184 FSA Arkansas images. It won the 2018 Ned Shank Award for Outstanding Preservation Publication from Preserve Arkansas.
Watkins is a local historian and professor emeritus of journalism at the University of Arkansas. During the event, she will introduce the photo project, including general background on the FSA, and highlight certain photos, talking about who took them and the probable reason why. Watkins will also attempt to assess the photos’ continued impact today, roughly 90 years after they were taken.
Following the lecture, Watkins will sign copies of her book, and copies of the book will be available for purchase for the duration of the exhibition. Prior to and following the lecture, guests can view the exhibition in the gallery.
Note: Attendees will need to be able to climb a flight of stairs to attend the lecture. A livestream will be provided in an accessible room. Event is free.
Dorothea Lange, 1938; Rogers, Arkansas; Small Town
Carl Mydans, 1936; rehabilitation client and food canned at the suggestion of Resettlement Administration rehabilitation supervisor, near Batesville, Arkansas
