Vietnam: The Real War and The Things They Carried

FAIN: ZPP-284271-22

Dubuque Museum of Art (Dubuque, IA 52001-6817)
Stacy Peterson (Project Director: May 2021 to present)

The development and implementation of an oral history exhibition on the Vietnam War at the Dubuque Museum of Art; retention of 10 positions.

This series of humanities programs asks, “how do we tell the truth in war?” The experience centers on an exhibition of Associated Press photographs that documented and changed history. DuMA will partner with the Grout Museum of History and Science and the University of Dubuque to train student Veterans to record and share the oral histories of Vietnam Veterans. The students will create an exhibition inspired by their experiences. Museum guests will also explore an installation of artifacts inspired by the acclaimed book The Things They Carried. Concurrent exhibitions add perspectives including the war photography of Dubuque journalist Bob Woodward and Ron Testa, an official Navy photographer. Lectures, film screenings and book discussions will expand guests understanding of the role of artists in telling the story. Plans include conversations with Tim O’Brien and art historian Teri Van Dorston and a screening of Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods.

Media Coverage

Truth of war: Dubuque museum's latest exhibition examines role of photojournalism in Vietnam (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Megan Gloss
Publication: Telegraph Herald
Date: 11/11/2021
Abstract: It was a conflict that came to define mid-1960s and early 1970s America. The war in Vietnam had been raging since November 1955. But it was U.S. involvement beginning nearly a decade later that brought about a new platform and signaled a turmoil that would spill far beyond the borders of the Southeast Asian country. “It was the first war that was brought to us in almost real time through television and the media,” said Gary Stoppelman, executive director of the Dubuque Museum of Art. “You saw journalists on the ground who, for the most part, had access to soldiers and high-ranking officers. Many who were there documenting what they were experiencing provided an unfiltered look at not only the battles being fought on the ground but the effect it had on the people and the country itself.”
URL: http://https://www.telegraphherald.com/news/features/article_ea564335-eb49-5f14-8e2a-629b0b8f153f.html

Play preview: DuMA program explores extraordinary life of Capa (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Michelle London
Publication: Telegraph Herald
Date: 11/26/2021
Abstract: Moderator Kevin Firnstahl will introduce patrons to Robert Capa (Jared Baker), a photojournalist who was witness to some of the world’s most polarizing events. From travels in Spain with Ernest Hemingway to document the Spanish Civil War, to journeying through post-war Russia with John Steinbeck, Capa’s work and his globe-trotting adventures will come to life. DuMA’s “Dead Artist’s Series” began in 2007. Georgia O’Keeffe (Leonore Howard), Salvador Dali (Kevin Firnstahl) and Andy Warhol (Dan Fairchild) were the first artists introduced in the program. Born Endre Friedmann in 1914, Robert Capa grew up in a middle-class Jewish family in Budapest, Hungary. Moving to Berlin at age 18, he studied journalism at the German Political College before the Nazi party banned Jews from the universities.
URL: http://www.telegraphherald.com/news/features/article_46a1e13c-60bd-562e-a503-041c46136227.html

Associated Products

Vietnam: The Real War Press Release (Web Resource)
Title: Vietnam: The Real War Press Release
Author: Gary Stoppelman
Author: Katherine Schroeder
Abstract: Dubuque Museum of Art Opens Major Exhibition of Vietnam War Photography Citywide program connects local veterans’ stories and iconic Associated Press images For Immediate Release Contact: Katherine Schroeder Marketing & Engagement Manager (563) 599-9486 October 15, 2021 (DUBUQUE, IA) – The Dubuque Museum of Art (DuMA) announces an expanded version of the Huntsville Museum of Art and the Associated Press traveling exhibition Vietnam: The Real War opening November 13. That collection features more than 50 iconic AP images that made and changed history—and won four Pulitzers. These photos transformed Americans’ understanding of soldiers and civilians on both sides of the conflict. DuMA expanded that experience to a citywide series of programs that ask, “How do we tell the truth in war?” Alongside the AP photographs, visitors will explore artifacts carried by U.S. soldiers into battle. That installation—of a local collection—is inspired by Tim O’Brien’s acclaimed book, The Things They Carried. Newly recorded oral histories bring local veterans’ memories to life for the first time publicly—a collaboration by the Veterans Freedom Center, University of Dubuque, DuMA and the Grout Museum. Concurrent DuMA exhibitions include reporting of the Vietnam War by local journalists Bob Woodward Jr. and Jim Geladas and photos by Ron Testa, an official Navy combat photographer. MercyONE has created special museum resources about brain health and the effects of Agent Orange. Vietnam: The Real War is made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities with support from the Dubuque Racing Association (DRA), Cottingham & Butler, the City of Dubuque's Arts and Culture Special Projects funds and Humanities Iowa. Veterans’ health programs are made possible by MercyOne. The public radio partner is Wisconsin Public Radio.
Year: 2021
Primary URL: http://dbqart.org
Primary URL Description: Dubuque Museum of Art website
Secondary URL: http://dbqart.org/media/
Secondary URL Description: Dubuque Museum of Art Media page

Dubuque Museum of Art Newsletter (Web Resource)
Title: Dubuque Museum of Art Newsletter
Author: Gary Stoppelman
Author: Stacy Peterson
Author: Margaret Buhr
Abstract: Welcome to a special issue of DuMA’s Newsletter devoted to Vietnam: The Real War. This issue is your guide to a community-wide series that explores the question “How do we tell the truth in war?” This is the first large-scale program to embrace our new mission: We create engaging art experiences that excite, inspire, and connect our community. Two core goals are at the heart of this mission: 1) Connect our community. We strengthen the fabric of our community by sparking connections across generations, backgrounds, abilities, and perspectives. 2) Create engaging art experiences. We build these connections through active learning, making, and experimenting. Vietnam: The Real War offers a singular experience out of multiple perspectives that can be encountered in our galleries, online, and around town. Inside the Falb Family Gallery, you’ll see iconic images by the photojournalists who documented and changed history as part of The Associated Press’s Saigon bureau. These photos transformed Americans’ understanding of soldiers and civilians on both sides of the conflict. You will also find an installation of artifacts carried by U.S. soldiers into battle. That installation—of a local collection—is inspired by Tim O’Brien’s acclaimed book, The Things They Carried. Concurrent exhibitions in the McNamer Gallery include photography and oral histories by local journalists who were reporting from Vietnam. Images taken by a Navy combat photographer from Chicago offer a different way of looking at the War.
Year: 2021
Primary URL: http://dbqart.org
Primary URL Description: Dubuque Museum of Art website
Secondary URL: http://chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fdbqart.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2FDuMA_Fall21_Web.pdf&clen=5552482&chunk=true
Secondary URL Description: Direct access to Dubuque Museum of Art Newsletter featuring the Vietnam: The Real War exhibition.

Vietnam: The Real War exhibition description (Web Resource)
Title: Vietnam: The Real War exhibition description
Author: Stacy Peterson
Author: Margaret Buhr
Abstract: Vietnam: The Real War November 13, 2021 - February 6, 2022 Vietnam: The Real War is made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities with support from the Dubuque Racing Association (DRA), Cottingham & Butler, the City of Dubuque’s Arts and Culture Special Projects funds and Humanities Iowa. Veterans’ health programs are made possible by MercyOne. The public radio partner is Wisconsin Public Radio. The views and opinions expressed by this program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities Iowa or the National Endowment for the Humanities
Year: 2021
Primary URL: http://dbqart.org
Primary URL Description: Dubuque Museum of Art website
Secondary URL: http://https://dbqart.org/past-exhibitions/2021/
Secondary URL Description: Webpage describing the exhibition Vietnam: The Real War

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