The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University is currently showcasing an exhibition that explores themes of American democracy and freedom of speech. This exhibition focuses on art as a powerful tool for social change, featuring a diverse array of artworks and artifacts related to social justice and community organizing.
The exhibition, titled Turn the volume up!, presents a collection of works by contemporary artists and photographers. Among the featured artists are Spider Martin, known for his compelling photographs of the Freedom Marches during the Civil Rights Movement, and Kara Walker, who critically examines U.S. history and racial stereotypes through multimedia art. The exhibit also includes works by the Guerilla Girls, Carrie Mae Weems, Kiki Smith, Bruce Davidson, and others.
The Nasher Museum has structured the exhibition into five thematic sections: Remarks, Organize, Records, Dissents, and Petitions. Through photographs, sculptures, installations, and paintings, the exhibit demonstrates the various artistic languages used to communicate vital messages and inspire civic engagement.
The Guerilla Girls, for instance, gained attention in the 1980s for their posters highlighting the underrepresentation of women artists in visual arts and popular culture. Bruce Davidson’s photography captures social inequality, ranging from the Jim Crow South to struggling neighborhoods in New York City. Meanwhile, Carol Summers’ screenprint featuring a bold red “X” over an image of a Vietnamese mother and her children was part of the Artists and Writers Protest campaign against the Vietnam War.
As the exhibition progresses, the displayed pieces will be rotated, allowing visitors to experience a broad spectrum of the museum’s collection. Turn the volume up! opens on August 27 and will be available until July 11, 2027. Concurrently, Everything Now All at Once continues through November 1.
