During the spring semester, 2002, the University Museum of Contemporary Art will present an exhibition of timely and, in light of our country-s recent horror, aching significance. The Culture of Violence addresses the issue of violence in its various malevolent and sanctioned forms through the thoughtful expressions of approximately 20 artists. This exhibition, which was programmed about a year ago, is a collaborative project between the Gallery and two independent curators, Donna Harkavy and Helaine Posner. Ms. Harkavy and Ms. Posner have organized the exhibition into a number of themes that include war, terrorist acts, hate crimes, domestic violence, and street crimes. As of this date, works by Ida Applebroog, Mel Chin, Sue Coe, Glenn Ligon, Kristin Oppenheim, Andy Warhol, and David Wojnarowicz will be featured among those of other artists.

Even before the events of September 11, there were plans to provide outreach programs to our community because of the sensitive nature of this subject and because our intentions might possibly be misconstrued. The Culture of Violence is an opportunity to regard this omnipresent phenomenon through the exhibition, a symposium on violence in February, and teacher training offered for academic credit through the Department of Art. The Gallery will also offer a series of films throughout the spring that will explore not exploit the subject of violence.

We would like to give interested individuals, community groups, teachers, and public schools opportunities to be involved in this project and to this end we are hosting a community coffee on November 17th in the University Museum of Contemporary Art at 3pm. The curators will give an overview of the exhibition with slides, and discussion will be open as to how we all might use this project to create discussion about violence and peacemaking. We look forward to meeting you.

Sincerely yours,

Betsy Siersma and Regina Coppola University Museum of Contemporary Art