FORT SMITH, Ark. – A dual offering of photography by two notable photographers in side-by-side galleries will open Saturday, February 26 at the Fort Smith Regional Museum of Art with a reception Friday evening from 5-7 p.m.
“Chuck Davis: The Wheel” features 38 photographic images, many of which were taken using early equipment (a 1904 Seroco 4×5 dry plate camera) and printing techniques: tintype, large format film and wet plate photography, which uses emulsions applied by hand on glass.
“The Wheel is the name of an ongoing project, honoring and observing lands once described as Indian Territory. Cultural stories inform this project, set in places of forced resettlement – and particularly in areas near the terminus of the Trail of Tears,” Davis said. “The name itself, ‘The Wheel,’ refers to the lottery wheel that held the slips of paper showing newly arrived Europeans where their new plots of land were.
Exhibited at the same time is another important collection of photographs from RAM’s permanent collection, the Eva Rubinstein Portfolio.
Born in 1933, Eva Rubinstein is a Polish-American photographer whose artistic works feature portraits, nudes and interiors, taken in Europe and the United States. With his artistic and musical training (his ballerina mother, his pianist father), Rubinstein grew up in a creative environment. Rubinstein studied theater in college and became interested in photography in 1967, learning from renowned photographers Lisette Model and Diane Arbus, and working as a photojournalist.
Both exhibitions will run from February 27 to June 5.
Located in downtown Fort Smith, the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum offers exhibits of artwork by world-class artists, major traveling exhibitions, and works by emerging artists. In its modern, state-of-the-art 16,000 square foot facility, RAM offers a wide range of arts education opportunities and cultural events. From professional art workshops and juried art competitions to online art classes and free Saturday art-making programs, RAM connects with schools, visitors and community members of all ages and of all ethnic origins to meet the cultural needs of the region.
The museum is located at 1601 Rogers Avenue in Fort Smith. For more information, call 479-784-2787.