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Glenna Gordon, A Ma’afa ceremony . . . from the series American Women, Montgomery, Alabama, July 13, 2019; digital print on aluminum, 28 x 21 inches; Courtesy of the artist.

New exhibition at OSU Museum of Art inspires reflection, recovery after conflict

Monday, September 23, 2024

Media Contact: Casey Ihde | OSU Museum of Art Marketing and Communications | 405-744-2783 | casey.pankey@okstate.edu

The Oklahoma State University Museum of Art presents “How We Rebuild,” opening Sept. 24, 2024. This selection of photographs examines the aftermath of conflict, focusing on what it takes to recover the heartbeat of humanity.

The exhibition draws from 12 years of work created by grant winners and finalists from The Aftermath Project, a nonprofit organization committed to telling the other half of war stories after the conflicts have ended — what it takes for individuals to rebuild destroyed lives and homes, to restore civil societies, and to address the lingering wounds of war while struggling to create new avenues for peace.

Documentary photographer Sara Terry founded The Aftermath Project to impart the importance of “aftermath photography,” yearning for a society that doesn’t forget the people and places that conflict photography covers.

“The end of war does not mean peace. It is simply the end of death and destruction. Every story of war includes a chapter that almost always goes untold — the story of the aftermath, which day by day becomes a prologue of the future,” Terry said.

The photos selected for “How We Rebuild” center and reflect on the human stories and memories that define us. The assembly of images features moments of hope, agency and resilience.

“These photographs serve as a powerful reminder that rebuilding isn’t just physical — it’s emotional and communal, requiring empathy, patience, and shared understanding,” said Liz Roth, OSU Museum of Art interim director.

This exhibition invites audiences to engage with the visual narratives and reflect on the role of the photographs in helping communities heal. “How We Rebuild” is organized by ExhibitsUSA, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance.

Artists included in the exhibition are Rodrigo Abd, Juan Arredond, Fatemeh Behboudi, Nina Berman, Pep Bonet, Andrea Bruce, Monika Bulaj, Kathryn Cook, Jeremy Dennis, Gwenn Dubourthoumieu, Michelle Frankfurter, Alessandro Gandolfi, Glenna Gordon, Ron Haviv, Jessica Hines, Olga Ingurazova, Andrew Lichtenstein, Luca Locatelli, Davide Monteleone, Saiful Huq Omi, Javad Parsa, Adam Patterson, Joseph Sywenkyj, Sara Terry and Donald Weber.

“How We Rebuild” is on view Sept. 24 through Dec. 20 at the OSU Museum of Art. Learn more at the website.

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