Press Release: The Design of War: World War I and World War II Posters and Flags (Selected Works from the Rowe Collection) Debuts at the Pensacola Museum of Art
The Pensacola Museum of Art (PMA) is extremely proud to present The Design of War: World War I and World War II Posters and Flags (Selected Works from the Rowe Collection) on view from Nov. 1, 2013 to Jan. 3, 2014. The exhibition features original posters and flags, created during both World Wars, and military artifacts such as letters from the troops, WWI and WWII helmets, dog tags, and United States war bonds. This is the collection of Dr. Patrick M. Rowe, Professor of Art History at Pensacola State College, and it is presented at the PMA for its debut exhibition run. The exhibition is sponsored in part by Navy Federal Credit Union.
Active-duty and retired military members and their families will be admitted into the museum for free during the run of the exhibition. A public opening reception will be held on November 8, 2013, from 5:30-7:30pm, in conjunction with Veterans Day.
The Design of War illustrates how visual media communicated messages that supported the war efforts and, in both conflicts, led to victory for the allies. The posters on display in the exhibition illustrate themes such as recruiting, fundraising drives, conservation of resources, defense, victory, and the preservation of freedom. They document the messages that the government and private industry presented to both the American public and the troops, and they provide the contemporary viewer an understanding of the crucial role art played as part of the war efforts. The flags on display form an important and educational component of the exhibition. To the citizens and soldiers taking part in the wars, the design of a flag communicated a message and commonly evoked an emotional patriotic feeling. However, during peacetime, the symbolism of these flags and the deep sense of patriotism they created are often forgotten. With this exhibition, the significance of these flags to those who personally experienced the wars is made clear for the viewer.
In addition to the collection’s visual and historical appeal, this exhibition is intended to bring awareness to the present-day issues facing our most recent veterans. The PMA has partnered with Pensacola State College
(PSC) and the Student Veterans Association to create the Dr. Patrick M. Rowe Endowed Scholarship, which will be awarded to veterans pursuing an education in the arts at PSC. The PMA has begun accepting donations for this restricted fund. One hundred percent of the total at the end of the exhibition will be donated to the Pensacola State College Foundation to carry out the scholarship in perpetuity.
Museum hours are Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Saturday 12:00-5:00 p.m. The Museum is closed Sundays and Mondays. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students, seniors and active duty military. Children under 5 are free. Tuesdays, admission is free to the public. For more information about the Museum call (850) 432-6247, visit the website at pensacolamuseum.org
