Press Release
☷ERDC researchers revive history of WWII Black art exhibit in Arizona
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
Mar 02,2024
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The exhibition pamphlet cover featured Vernon Winslow , Hale Woodruff , Col . Edwin Noel Hardy , Lt . Col . Carroll F . E . Nelson , and Richmond Barthé at the opening in 1943 . There were also guests at the dedication of the art exhibit in 1943 , including Lew Davis who was seated in the front row , third from the right , and his wife Mathilde Davis , who was seated in the same row , second from the left . This all took place at Fort Huachuca , Arizona in 1943 . The U . S . Engineer Research and Development Center ( ERDC ) Cultural Resources team has been working on uncovering the historic legacy of Black artists from the World War II era at Fort Huachuca . They prepared a report for the Environmental and Natural Resources Division at Fort Huachuca titled "A History and Analysis of the WPA Exhibit of Black Art at the Fort Huachuca Mountain View Officers’ Club , 1943–1946 . " The report was written in preparation for a possible renovation of the former Mountain View Officers ' Club , with the goal of reintroducing reproductions of the art that was displayed there during WWII . The ERDC - CERL team , consisting of researchers Kayley R . Schacht , Deidre C . Gonçalves , Aaron R . Schmidt , and Adam D . Smith , provided a brief history of Black art in the early 20th century , a history of the exhibit at the MVOC during WWII , biographies of the artists , and a list of repositories that have originals or reproductions of the art . In 1943 , the MVOC held an art exhibition featuring the work of Black artists associated with the Work Projects Administration ( WPA ) . The exhibition , titled "Exhibition of the Work of 37 Negro Artists , " aimed to boost the morale of the Soldiers at Fort Huachuca , which was primarily a Black military base during WWII . This exhibition played a significant role in the intersection of American art , military history , and racial segregation . The team also provided recommendations for replicating the art for display in the MVOC if the building is renovated . Schmidt , a social scientist at CERL , highlighted the unique skills each team member brought to the project . I know how to research history , so I helped make bios for artists at the exhibit and compared it to other Black art exhibits . My favorite part was researching the lesser - known artists from 1943 . We had to dig deep into primary sources like census records and newspaper articles . Our research showed the exhibit ' s importance during the Army ' s pre - integration era . It was a unique space for Black art and music , giving Black soldiers a chance to see works by famous Black artists . This exhibit was a big deal before desegregation in the military . We had a great team with different skills - Kayley did research on art trends , Adam connected us with an art history expert , and Deidre focused on Black American art history . This Black History Month , ERDC is showcasing African Americans in the arts . This month , we ' re reflecting on the challenges and achievements that have influenced the experiences of Black Americans in our country ' s history , both in civilian and military life . While acknowledging the history of segregation in the military during World War II , we also want to highlight the resilience and patriotism shown by Black Americans in the face of injustice . Our team at ERDC - CERL hopes that this report will bring more attention to the 1943 exhibit and the artists involved , and we ' re excited about the possibility of refurbishing the MVOC . We also aimed to track down the whereabouts of the artwork from the exhibit after the war , and we ' re pleased to have found repositories with many original pieces and prints . If renovations do happen , reproductions of these artworks could enhance the MVOC space and be featured in future exhibits at Fort Huachuca . This project was funded by the National Trust for Historic Preservation ' s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund , which granted funds to The Dunbar Coalition for MVOC research . The Army received these funds in 2021 and transferred them to CERL . For more information , you can read the technical report here . Fort Huachuca is a significant Army installation with a rich history , located in Arizona . Learn more about us at https://home . army . mil/huachuca/ .
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