WILLIAM EARLE WILLIAMS

Unsung Heroes:
African American Soldiers in the Civil War

Light Work Gallery Reception and Artist Lecture featuring William Earle Williams:
Thursday, February 1, 2007 from 5-8pm

Until the release of the motion picture Glory in 1989, it was not well known that more than 180,000 black soldiers served in the Civil War. The exhibition Unsung Heroes: African American Soldiers in the Civil War features over forty stunning black-and-white photographs by William Earle Williams. The images call attention to the sites made special through these soldiers' contributions, so that their story becomes a part of our American story. Williams has been pursuing this series for over ten years. He has photographed significant Civil War sites in the South and North, recording both historically recognizable as well as forgotten locations.

According to Williams, "Too often the historical and artistic legacy of black accomplishment is ignored. As an artist the memory of these soldiers has inspired my artistic imagination. The ground they fought on is sacred and an inspiration for all Americans. These sites dispel the myth that blacks were given their citizenship and rights after the Civil War without having fought for and earned them." He photographs sites where black soldiers trained, fought, or lost their lives. These locations, along with images significant to the Underground Railroad, have often been overlooked and are rarely photographed. Williams' photographs are rich in history, and he has spent a great deal of time researching the locations depicted in each image. The sites are often forgotten and unmarked—the viewer would not immediately realize the historic importance of these places without Williams' research.

Williams received his BA in History at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY and his MFA in Fine Arts at Yale University School of Art in New Haven, CT. He has been a professor of fine arts at Haverford College in Pennsylvania since 1978, and a curator of photography since 1979. Williams participated in Light Work's Artist-in-Residence program in the summer of 2003.

Other exhibitions in conjunction with our main exhibition:

WILLIAM EARLE WILLIAMS
Underground Railroad Made Visible

January 16-March 8, 2007

The images in this exhibition depict various sites on the Underground Railroad. Williams photographed many Underground Railroad sites in Central New York when he participated in Light Work's Artist-in-Residence program in 2003.

Community Folk Art Center
805 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13210
www.communityfolkartcenter.org

CORIANA CLOSE
A Journey Towards Hope:
Underground Railroad Sites in Oberlin, Ohio

February 1-March 1, 2007

Coriana Close has photographed the history of Oberlin, Ohio's Underground Railroad for the last few years. The images include large format color photographs of buildings in Oberlin that were essential to the abolitionist movement.

Panasci Lounge, Schine Student Center
303 University Avenue, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244

Un/Common Threads:
Selections from the Light Work Collection

January 16-April 19, 2007

This exhibition, curated by Syracuse University graduate student Kaylen Williams, features images from the Light Work Collection. The work selected explores how contemporary artists approach issues of ethnic and cultural identity.

Robert B. Menschel Photography Gallery
Schine Student Center, 303 University Ave., Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244

William Earle Williams
Cabin Creek, Oklahoma, 1999
Silver gelatin print, 7 x 7"

"July 1 and 2, 1863: U.S.C.T. 79th Infantry also known as 1st Kansans (Colored). This engagement along the creek bed in Indian Territory involved not only African-Americans but also Native Americans who fought for both the Union and Confederate Forces. It was also the first time that the entire 1st Kansas (Colored) Regiment had fought together." —Williams

Light Work will feature a gallery reception and an artist lecture by William Earle Williams on February 1, 2007. The reception will take place from 5-8 pm, with the lecture beginning at 5:30pm. This event will kick off a month-long celebration of Black History Month at Syracuse University, which includes numerous speakers and programs.

Light Work is a member of CMAC, the Coalition of Museum and Art Centers at Syracuse University. This exhibition was supported by PULSE.

Also on view at Light Work is the Transmedia Photography Annual exhibition, featuring the work of seniors and graduate students in Syracuse University's Department of Transmedia.

Gallery hours for these exhibitions are Sunday to Friday, 10am-6pm, and by appointment. To schedule an appointment, please call 315-443-1300. Both the exhibition and reception are free and open to the public. Light Work invites groups and individuals to schedule tours and gallery talks of the exhibition and facility.

Major exhibitions at Light Work are published in the award winning publication, Contact Sheet, available by subscription or individual order.

Other information on William Earle Williams can be found in the Light Work Online Collection.