A glass slide for a 19th century projector shows a woman praying over two children during the Civil War. (Photo: Anderson Gallery)
By Emmett McMenamy
At Drake University’s Anderson Gallery, an old “magic” lantern projects images from the 19th century across a plain white wall. The images, as well as a collection of glass slides, offer a glimpse of life and death in the Civil War.
They’re all part of an exhibition called “Acts of Projection,” which showcases moments from one of the most significant chapters in U.S. history, using the technology of the time.
The framed slides, back-lit in small display cases at the front of the gallery, depict a range of emotions during the war. The artists’ renderings include a woman praying over two kids, a soldier returning home, and another soldier stabbing an enemy with a bayonet as an American flag flies in the background.
The artwork and artifacts are accompanied by historical information that explains the once-revolutionary technology. In the projector, a light source would shine through the precisely crafted slides and a lens, projecting images onto a screen. In a time before TV or even radio, projection shows brought war stories home and helped homefront audiences connect with the front lines.
In addition to the historical objects, a modern projector in a dimly lit section in the back of the gallery displays a new video by Johnny DiBlasi. The installation, called “Lumen,” mixes 19th century headlines, contemporary news and artificial intelligence-generated stories to create an original artwork in real time. In the context of the gallery, it looks back to the past and offers a peek into the future.
The show remains through Jan. 17, but take note: It’s closed during the university’s winter break, Dec. 21 through Jan. 6.
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