‘Silent Scream’ Art Display

Where: E.S. Bird Library, 6th floor

When: Now until Jan. 3, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday

How Much: Free

Black and white depictions of decapitation, strangulation, police brutality and fiery demons from the bowels of hell currently fill the walls of the sixth floor at E.S. Bird Library.

The two-toned images are from the novel ‘Wild Pilgrimage,’ one of the many graphic novels being displayed as part of ‘The Silent Scream: Conflicts in Novels Without Words’ exhibit, which is being shown until Jan. 3.

The display features graphic novels from the 1930s and 1940s pertaining to this semester’s Syracuse Symposium theme of ‘Conflict: Peace and War.’ The library has been collecting the graphic novels for years.

The annual symposium explores human nature through different mediums at the university. Each symposium has a unique theme.

‘It’s interesting to see how the themes of conflict in industrial society relate to modern-day civilization,’ said Alyssa Echanique, an undeclared sophomore at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management.

Among the ‘Silent Scream’ display is ‘White Collar: A novel in linocuts,’ a Depression-era narrative illustrating how everyone, from white-collar workers and corporate bigwigs, can be affected by economic turmoil. The novel by Giacomo Patri sits alongside the liberal political pamphlets he also made.

‘(The artist’s) work had a very politicized point of view,’ said William La Moy, an associate librarian for the Special Collections Research Center at Bird. ‘The main thrust of their work was illustrating political journals.’

Another display, ‘Phobia,’ by John Vassos, outlines different common fears, such as claustrophobia and monophobia. These fears are illustrated through harsh, dark visuals and descriptive texts written by Vassos’ wife, Ruth. The display also includes four enlarged paintings of actual illustrations from the novel.

Set aside in its own separate section lies the main attraction, ‘Wild Pilgrimage.’ This novel displays its own prestige by having the largest number of showcased graphic novel pages in the exhibition. Most of the displays feature the book itself opened to a single page, followed by a few complementary panels narrating a story.

‘It challenges viewers to figure out the narrative themselves,’ La Moy said. ‘In this context, we have to show you just a snippet.’

La Moy said the original ‘Wild Pilgrimage’ was approximately 100 pages long. He was tasked with the responsibility of abbreviating the novel’s main storyline to just 42 pages.

Because several pieces come from the post-Depression era, many of them feature individual struggles against forces like industrialization and authority. Others evaluate a specific part of society, such as ‘Southern Cross: A novel of the South Seas,’ by Laurence Hyde. Critiquing nuclear testing and its negative environmental effects, the novel shows an island strangely resembling Eden, with doves and island natives. In the next panel, a large ship bombs the island, leaving in its wake a mushroom cloud for the final panel.

‘I think they have such a strong graphic appeal. Each of these images is an individual piece of art. Students find that compelling,’ La Moy said.

The Special Collections Research Center chose this exhibit because of the theme for this semester’s Syracuse Symposium. The notion of conflict, both individual and societal, is present in each one of these texts. La Moy said the artists set out to not only create art, but to also right wrongs.

While some of the novels are painted, most are done with woodcuts. There are two unique styles of woodcutting. Some artists, like Lyn Ward, choose to use the end grain, which allows for denser, more detailed drawings, while others choose to use the side grain, which complements broader strokes.

Combining art and literature, these pieces function as analytical historical texts, as well as fabulous works of art that serve to be admired.

‘It’s not your traditional form of literature,’ said Lara Goldstein, an undeclared sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. ‘I like the blend of art with storytelling.’

aedibias@syr.edu

Published on October 18, 2010 at 12:00 pm