For Immediate Release
May 18, 2022
CLARK ART INSTITUTE PRESENTS TALK BY WAR PHOTOGRAPHER JAMES NACHTWEY
(Williamstown, Massachusetts)—On Sunday, May 29 at 2 pm, the Clark Art Institute hosts a conversation with award-winning war photographer James Nachtwey on his experiences photographing war. Presented in conjunction with the Clark’s exhibition As They Saw It: Artists Witnessing War, the lecture is presented live in the Clark's auditorium and broadcast simultaneously on Zoom and Facebook Live (@clarkartinstitute).
Nachtwey addresses the ever-changing field of photojournalism and its dynamic and increasingly digital relationship with the world. In addition to discussing the government, the press, and the role social media plays, Nachtwey shares insights on his assignments in Afghanistan and, more recently, Ukraine, where he worked in February and March of this year.
Nachtwey’s talk complements the Clark’s special exhibition As They Saw It: Artists Witnessing War. On view in the Eugene V. Thaw Gallery of the Clark’s Manton Research Center through May 30, this exhibition presents four centuries of war imagery from Europe and the United States.
Especially for those far from the front, eyewitness imagery is crucial to understanding what may be happening on the battlefield. Yet artists’ depictions of the wrenching conditions and consequences of warfare may even transcend their historical origins to become lasting monuments to suffering and sacrifice. As They Saw It brings together a diverse selection from the Clark’s holdings: both pro- and anti-Napoleonic imagery (including Francisco de Goya’s Disasters of War); Civil War photographs and wood engravings; and multiple perspectives on World War I. The exhibition features a special selection of recently acquired photographs of Black Americans in military service, documenting the contributions of individuals whose service has long been underrepresented in the historical record.
This event is free, but advance registration for the Zoom transmission is required. Register at clarkart.edu/events.
ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 285,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.
The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday, from September through June, and daily in July and August. Advance timed tickets are strongly recommended. Admission is $20; free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.
All visitors age five and older must wear facemasks while inside the Clark’s facilities. For details on health and safety protocols, visit clarkart.edu/health.
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