Introduction

The collection of art displayed is a part of the White Flag art gallery located in New York City, NY. The White Flag gallery is proud to be associated with many artists who are known for their passion and grace as political peace activists and their imagination that leans toward a greater world. The gallery shows many of their artworks that convey styles like photo realism, stencil work, cubism, etc. The White Flag gallery is run by Peace for the People, an anti-war organization that desires change and wants the end of wars and violence in the world in a non-violent manner. Peace for the People organizations are present and vibrant throughout the world. 

Exhibition Introduction

The White Flag gallery is proud to present their first exhibition called, End OF War. This exhibition displays a wide range of artists including, Pablo Picasso, Banksy, Otto Dix, Leon Golub, and many more. The White Flag gallery is a place for many anti-war and political artists to display their work. Therefore, this exhibition is beginning their outreach for world peace. The artworks are all connected in the fact that they tell the story of anti-war activist in their journey of find peace and ending the violence that takes place in the world we live in. All of them show the public the effects war has on the world based upon their own experiences and observations of war. The devastating toll war takes on a country, community, and families throughout the world. 

"Guernica" (1937)

Pablo Picasso is a Spanish artist and an important name in modern art. With his unique edge brought to the styles of cubism and surrealism he created several creative and breathtaking works of art. Guernica is one of Picasso’s most famous works and his most powerful political statement. It was painted immediately after the Nazi’s devastating bombing practice on the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. This art form is essential to our End Of War exhibition. Not only does it capture the tragedies of war and remind people of the suffering it can inflict upon the world. But Guernica has become an anti-war symbol and embodiment of peace around the world. 

Pablo Picasso-  Guernica 11ft x 25.6ft. 1937. Obtained from Pablo Picasso. Org 

"Sturmtruppe geht unter Gas vor" (1924)

Otto Dix is one of the most influential artists of the 20^th century due to his visual legacy of Der Krieg Cycle. He was one of the leading exponents of the artistic movement Die Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity), a form of social realist art which examined the decadence and underlying social inequality of post-war German society. He was also a Dadaist, an art movement that was anti-war. This painting below was a part of his sketching’s is the Der Krieg Cycle , it displays the powerful documentary of man’s inhumanity to man and the ignorance it takes for human beings to result in such violence and inhumane justice that war presents.

Otto Dix- Sturmtruppe geht unter Gas vor [Stormtroops advancing under gas]' 1924.13 11/16 x 18 5/8" (34.8 x 47.3 cm).   Obtained from National Gallery of Australia Online. 

"Peace Prize" (2015)

Anthony Freda is a freelance illustrator. In his illustrations he paints a clear picture of the world and the politics that take place in it. His work often mocks politics but also makes light and brings awareness of government, corporations, and society’s own wrong doings. The illustration Peace Prize has been posted on several anti-war blogs and has been associated as one of the faces of anti-war propaganda. The subject of the illustration is a dove, which is the universal meaning for peace and with it’s head cut off it reflects to true meaning of the war on peace.

                     Anthony Freda- Peace Prize (2015). 60x20 in Obtained from Anthony Freda Online Site. 

"Two Soldiers Painting CND Sign" (2007)

Banksy is an English street graffiti artist and political activist making him the perfect candidate for the exhibition. By using a stencil technique he is able to combine submissive epigrams and dark humor is his street style. In this Banksy artwork we see two soldiers painting a sign of peace. The original version was confiscated for breaking laws regarding protesting in the London area. The painting is represented in this exhibition because it is a form of repression of free speech and also as an anti-war protest. 

             Banksy- Soldiers painting CND sign (2007). Screen print 70 x 50 cm (27.56 x 19.69 in) Obtained from Canvas Art Rocks Blog.

"Stop Wars" (2015)

The Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra is not only known for his street art, where he interprets his own style of utilizing bright colors and bold lines in creating a kaleidoscope theme but he is also known as a peace activist, exactly what he creates the well know character Yoda in his mural in Brazil. There are multiple theories that this Stop Wars is references anything from the wars on terror or drug wars.It is a perfect centerpiece for influencing this world to end the violent crimes and war not only expressed from religion or beliefs but only the factors we are forced to deal with everyday in life. 

               Stop Wars – Eduardo Kobra (2015). Image taken from Eduardo Kobra’s Facebook page. 

"Antiwar Demonstration" (1941)

Davis Robbins is an American photographer who partners with photographer Arnold Eagle. They created a series called One-Third of A Nation, which documents the conditions of the east side of New York during the Great Depression. The Antiwar Demonstration photograph is a big representation of antiwar and cohabits well in our exhibition. The photograph illustrates the overall feeling American citizens felt about not wanting to commit to war especially while they were desperately trying to overcome the effects of the Great Depression.

                David Robbins, Antiwar Demonstration, c. 1941 Gelatin silver print:  8 7/8 x 7 3/8 in. Obtained from Art & Social Issues in American Culture. 

"White Squad V" (1984)

Leon Golub was an American painter and also a peace activist during the Vietnam War-era. He was horrified by the human brutality being done which drove him to an expressionistic and dramatic use of human figures in his monumental paintings. The piece, White Squad V captures the moment of decision for violent action. This painting references the subdivision of war into acts of terrorism and torture and is a big symbol in the anti-war movement and this exhibition.   

                 Leon Golub- White Squad V (1984). acrylic on canvas, 120 x 161 inches.Obtained from Art Critical. com

"Gassed" (1919)

John Singer Sargent was an one of the many artists commissioned by the British War Memorial Committee to create a large paintings that ultimately documented the war. The painting Gassed depicts the aftermath of a mustard gas attack during World War I. The painting  provides a powerful testimony of the effects chemical weaponry the ultimate cause for many anti-war programs.

   John Singer Sargent – Gassed (1919) 231 cm × 611 cm (91 in × 240½ in) Obtained from Independent.com

"Whaam!" (1963)

Roy Lichtenstein was an American artist and is best known for his works of pop art. He studied as an artist before and after he served in the United States Army during World War II. His experiences influenced his series of war paintings, which included Whaam! This painting integrates the aerial combat between the U.S and Soviet Union. His vision for air battle showed a new and darker side to Pop Art letting people into the darker enterprise of war. 

       Roy Lichtenstein- Whaam! (1963) 170 cm × 400 cm (67 in × 160 in). Obtained from the LA Times article 2012.

"The Dead Stretcher Bearer" (1919)

Gilbert Rogers was in the Royal Army Medical Corp. and in his painting, The Dead Street Bearer he takes components of the war seen through his own eyes. This painting is a form of realism art that is full of horrific and gritty pieces of World War I. He helped serve the point that no matter what you are doing in the war it’s only a matter of time until you are a part of the horror. This painting is a great depiction of the pain war can serve, the loss of lives, community, and peace in this world and I believe it serves a great place in our exhibit.

                  Gilbert Rogers – The Dead Stretcher Bearer (1919) 725 x 576 in. Obtained from Amelia Carruthers Art blog.
  

In Conclusion

              Being involved in the White Flag gallery has brought me a great amount of knowledge of the community art showcases. People from all over the world can fall in love with a piece of art, they all may not interpret it the same way but there is still an appreciation for it. By organizing this exhibit and all the art in it I have learned that no matter where an artist is from or what language they speak the artists in this exhibit all share the same opinion on the wars in this world that we all share. It was great to bring all these theories and artists together in this community. Creating this exhibit was enjoyable but there were also challenges in organizing it. After all the event happening recently, I knew I wanted my theme to anti-war and I wanted the artist to also be anti-war and peace activist, people who see the change that can happen in the world if the concept of war was destroyed. It was easy to find anti-war artworks; paintings, street murals, posters, sculpture, etc. But the challenging part was getting the dimensions and original pieces of these works.

                Gallery curators have a huge responsibility in creating the gallery theme and finding artworks that represent that theme to the fullest. And also making sure the artist’s messages are told properly. I have a newly respect for these curators after putting this exhibit together myself. The pieces I have put together for this exhibit are all based upon the message of anti-war. Many of the artists in this exhibit are anti-war and peace activist. Their art displays are key theme, wars do nothing but kill. They kill people and the spirits of many. No longer is a family going to be whole or feel safe in their home. Many artists were inspired to create their work after famous tragedies. Several artists in this exhibit experienced war first hand and were in the battle field, the take these experiences and recreate the horrific and vivid scene and make it into a masterpiece. Artists create the work to show the world what this war has done and the tragedy it creates. It is a message to tell the world to stop with the violence, make peace with one another, and make sure tragedies like this never happen again. The works are telling the world it is time for the end of war.