”Look Away Dixie Land” opened Friday at Durham’s Labour Love Gallery located in Golden Belt. Labour Love presents “Look Away Dixie Land” as an opportunity to explore the past, present and future of the great Southern racial divide. The show features three prominent artists from the Triangle: McArthur Freeman, Titus Brooks Heagins and our friend Dave Alsobrooks of the Paragraph Project.
The image above is from Alsobrooks’ series. Born and raised in South Carolina, Alsobrooks recounts the significance of the Confederate Flag as a point of contention in his artist statement:
The flag has traditionally been a prominent icon, seen on license plates, shirts, tattoos, bumper stickers and keychains among other items. The “Southern Cross” was even displayed atop the state’s capitol building from 1962 until 2000. Arguments were made to remove the flag and to uphold its public display in Columbia. I knew folks entrenched on either side of this discussion, so I was privy to both points of view. During this time the phrase, “Heritage, not hate,” became popular. It became the “politically correct” slogan accompanying the Confederate Flag. Paraphrased: the Confederate Flag doesn’t have any hateful associations — its public display is only a tribute to history, heritage and a way of life. Heritage, not hate? To whose heritage are we referring?
“Look Away Dixie Land” will be showing until October 10th.
-
murmurandshout liked this
-
bunnyvictorious reblogged this from fletter and added:
I’m sorry, I can’t help it people. This is not the Confederate Flag. The Confederate Flag is called the Stars and Bars...
-
fletter reblogged this from smokesignalspr
-
smokesignalspr posted this
