Written by Abbey Williams // Photo by Edgar Cardiel
The 1924 Experience joined the Art and Design Department in showcasing the Miguel Covarrubias: Caricaturista Exhibition, introducing the art of an era and a major person from the 1920s. The exhibit opened Jan. 12 and will end Feb. 17. A caricature artist was present at the opening night to further immerse students in the art culture of that time period.
Dr. Liann Gallagher, co-director of the 1924 Experience and associate professor of political science, said working with the art and design department has been beneficial.
“We have partnered with this exhibit with the art department,” Gallagher said. “They have been very helpful in putting up, maintaining and managing the exhibit itself, which was great. The partnership with them has been really invaluable.”
Gallagher said students can broaden their horizons by experiencing what the 1924 Experience brings to campus.
“One of the cool things about college, I think, is that you get exposed to perspectives that are different from your own,” Gallagher said. “So even if you’re not an art person, consuming art and being a patron of the arts is still a really important thing to make yourself a really well-rounded person.”
Kimberly Laing, assistant professor of history and director of the 1924 Experience, said there is a connection to be found between caricatures now and the art from the displayed time period.
“Many people think of caricatures at the fair, but to see an artist who does caricatures and an anthropologist who does characters, and then how that can give you a better picture of an era,” Laing said. “We can take photographs, and photographs are great, but they don’t really draw out the uniqueness of the person in the same way a caricature does.”
Laing said there’s always something we can find fascination with.
“It’s all of the pieces of the ‘20s being brought together,” Laing said. “This shows students that no matter what they’re interested in, like if they like reality TV, back then it was reality radio. We are still interested in things 100 years later. People have been fascinated with that for a long time. And you can see that reflected in the exhibit.”
Sophomore Anna Claire Curtis said any type of student can appreciate an art exhibit.
“I think that visiting an art gallery can help expand students’ minds,” Curtis said. “Taking a break from the world and going into a gallery to look at creation is a privilege that we get to do, and should be taken advantage of when at all possible.”
Curtis said she could learn more about Harding’s past through the 1924 Experience.
“The 1924 Experience has shown all the different phases and world events that Harding has experienced and been through,” Curtis said. “Learning about specific historical facts and the events that happened here is important and can help establish just how long this university has been around. It’s hard to think of the previous students who also got their education here, but I feel the 1924 Experience has opened my mind to the countless other students who were doing the same thing I am now.”
