NewsRelease

(Posted 1-14-04)
Contact: Dan Nonte, 336-334-5371

“Borne of Necessity” on Display at Weatherspoon Through April 11

GREENSBORO - The Weatherspoon Art Museum at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro presents an original exhibition, “Borne of Necessity,” Jan. 18-April 11. This group exhibition considers the conditions and effects of poverty through the work of ten contemporary artists or artists groups.

It brings together recent or newly commissioned work – including print, audio, photography, architecture and electronic media – that addresses the situations of the poor and that comments on the factors that contribute to the poverty of societies and individuals. The participating artists have been selected because their work explores poverty through a variety of biographical, anthropological, theoretical and political viewpoints.

Organized by Weatherspoon curator of exhibitions Ron Platt, “Borne of Necessity” features work by artists from Canada, England, Slovenia, and across the United States. Participants are Julie Ault and Martin Beck, Peggy Diggs, Anthony Hernandez, Tom Hunter, Marjectica Potrc, Michael Rakowitz, Camilo Vergara, Ken Lum, Samuel Mockbee and Rural Studios, and the artists’ collective Temporary Services with Dave Whitman.

While other contemporary artists have addressed the subject of poverty in their work, Weatherspoon staff knows of no other museum exhibition of contemporary art that has focused on poverty.

“As a university art museum that also serves the public, the Weatherspoon is committed to presenting exhibitions that examine and promote discussion about important social and cultural issues of our time,” said Nancy Doll, director. “Art can be a powerful lens through which to gain new perspectives on the world around us. ‘Borne of Necessity’ is a groundbreaking show, and obviously one that is very timely.”

Despite signs of an economic recovery, the U.S. workforce added only 1,000 jobs in December, according to the Department of Labor.

Education Programs
A number of free public programs have been scheduled on Thursday evenings throughout the exhibition. All events will begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

A five-part film series, entitled “Economies of Poverty” and organized by artists Julie Ault and Martin Beck, will address critical moments or periods in history that greatly impacted both people’s lives and community livelihoods. Collectively, the films are meant to articulate poverty as a structural part of larger economic, social, and political formations. Dates and titles include: Jan. 22: “Bread and Roses,” (Ken Loach, 2001, 110 min.); Feb. 12: “The Big One,” (Michael Moore, 1998, 90 min.); Feb. 26: “Memories of Underdevelopment,” (Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, 1968, 97 min.); Mar. 25: “Fast Food Women,” (Anne Lewis, 1991, 30 min.) plus “Stranger with a Camera,” (Elizabeth Barret, 2000, 60 min.); and April 8: “The Bicycle Thief,” (Vittorio De Sica, 1949, 87 min.). A series program will include a brief essay by the artists and a synopsis of each film.

On Thursday, March 18, the Weatherspoon will host a panel discussion focused on art, social activism, and service within the context of poverty in women’s lives. Moderated by Ron Platt, panelists will include Peggy Diggs, artist; Dr. Jill Fuller, UNCG Department of Sociology; and Marian Franklin, Associate Executive Director, Women’s Resource Center of Greensboro.

Artist Camilo Vergara will present a slide lecture on the development of his work in the exhibition on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Weatherspoon auditorium. Additional gallery talks will be given at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28 (Ron Platt); and three other Thursdays throughout the exhibition: Feb. 19, March 4, and April 7 (speakers to be announced).

The Greensboro Public Library is sponsoring public discussions on poverty in conjunction with the exhibition. “Literacy and the Poverty Line” will consider the effects of low-income existence on youth and adult literacy, Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m., Greensboro Public Library, Central Branch (Church Street). A number of local branch libraries will organize public discussions of Barbara Ehrenreich’s book, “Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America.” For more information on dates and branch locations, contact (336) 373-2471.

Support for the Exhibition
The Weatherspoon Art Museum has received generous support for the exhibition from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, The Rockefeller Foundation, the Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation, the Tannenbaum-Sternberger Foundation, and the North Carolina Arts Council.

About the Weatherspoon
The Weatherspoon Art Museum, home to one of the finest collections of contemporary art in the Southeast, is located at the corner of Spring Garden and Tate Streets on the UNCG campus. Museum hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 am to 5 pm; Thursday from 10 am to 9 pm; and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm. Admission and parking are free. For more information or directions, call (336) 334-5770 or visit the web site at  http://weatherspoon.uncg.edu.

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