Southeastern NEWS
 
                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 10/17/01
      Contact:                           Monique Michel  

Editors: Photo accompanies release
"REACTION 2: TERRORISM" AN OUTLET FOR EXPRESSION
     HAMMOND   Since the tragic events of September 11 are on the minds of all
Americans, Southeastern Louisiana University faculty have brought them into the classroom.
     Faculty have asked students to react to the universal concern and worldwide headlines
surrounding the World Trade Center and Pentagon bombings in art assignments and theater skits.
The tragedy is also the theme of an exhibit at Southeastern's Sims Memorial Library, titled
"Reaction 2: Tragedy."
     The exhibit, located on the second floor of Sims Memorial Library, will be displayed
through Friday, November 2.
     The exhibit is part of a series called "Reaction", conceived this year by Don Marshall,
director of the university's Clark Hall Gallery and head of the Cultural Resource Management
program. The idea behind the series is to get students to create their own artwork or other
creative pieces based on their reactions to campus exhibits or events.
     The first "Reaction" exhibit centered around students' impressions of an art show by
Gerald L. Cannon at Clark Hall Gallery in September.
     Michael Aldana, president of the Visual Art Society, met with Marshall to discuss an
outlet for students to display their emotions relating to the attacks through art."ReAction 2:
Terrorism" was the outcome. 
     "ReAction 2: Terrorism" is a collection of approximately 50 paintings, sketches,
sculptures, and other forms of art contributed by mostly Southeastern students. Three
Southeastern visual art faculty members also contributed pieces -- Scott Finch, Barbara Tardo,
and Rancy Boyd-Snee. Many of the piece are from Boyd-Snee's students, who were asked to
create charcoal drawings for the exhibit.                         
     "I amazed at how many (students) were already working on pieces," Marshall said.
"Everybody needs a way to express their emotions. Art is one of the classic forms of
communication." 
     The opening of the exhibit was held on October 11, marking the one month anniversary
of the attacks. The gallery was opened with comments by Paul Marek, director of the
Southeastern Police Department and retired army colonel. Marek spoke on the need for unity and
determination in fighting for our nation's liberties. "Look at the expressions presented here
today," Marek said, "and think about the liberties that we have and what the cost may be to keep
those liberties."
     The students who contributed their works agreed that the exhibit is an excellent way for
them to express their feelings. 
     Junior Ann Louden, a visual arts major from California, says that, "it helps a lot to get it
out in an artistic way. It's good students to show what they are feeling." Rowdy Davis, a senior
visual arts major from Hammond, said that he "felt so disgusted about the situation" that he 
"wanted to portray people coming together in unity."        
For additional information on the exhibit, contact Marshall at 985-549-5080.                                
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsf01.htm