The Open Mind of Lafcadio Hearn in New Orleans (Book and Art Exhibition)

Sponsored by the HEARN SOCIETY

Download a superb .pdf brochure of the exhibition here:

Lafcadio-Hearn_press_release_2012_english.pdf

展覧会

基本情報

日時
Period
October 18-28, 2012
mon-sat: 10:00am-6:00pm
sun: 12:00pm-6:00pm
会場
Venue
Jones Hall 2F, Jones Gallery (Room 200), Tulane University, New Orleans
料金
Free Entrance
内容

Implementation

Hearn’s Open Mind, in other words his tolerance and cooperative mindset, materializes in many of his writings. In particular, Gombo Zhebès and La Cuisine Creole written during his time in New Orleans, and Two Years in the French West Indies written in the Antilles with the same Creole cultural backdrop. Hearn praised the blended culture of the Creoles, and his open-mindedness regarding the contact and fusion of cultures was a new way of thinking that crosses over to modern post-colonialism.

‘The Open Mind of Lafcadio Hearn in New Orleans’ will display approximately 23 pieces from the 2010 exhibition in Matsue Castle; 2 pieces from The American College of Greece; 3 of his favorite items from the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum in Matsue; 26 of first editions of the books mainly from his time in New Orleans (Rare Book Collection, Special Collections, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University). Pieces by the artists freely expressing Hearn’s life, philosophy, and open-mindedness as interpreted from his works and letters will be displayed along with the artists’ remarks. The beautifully designed covers of Hearn’s original publications create a harmonious display along with Hearn’s memo pad that he used as a journalist in New Orleans, and his favorite pen and inkwell, sharing with the viewer a sense of Hearn’s journalistic and writer’s spirit.

The Open Mind of Lafcadio Hearn

‘The Open Mind of Lafcadio Hearn’ is a project that has been nurtured by Takis Efstathiou (Art Coordinator, Greece) since 1996.

Thanks to his passion and hard work, the world’s first Lafcadio Hearn themed art exhibition was held in The American College of Greece Athens in 2009.

The following year, with 2010 marking the 120th anniversary of Hearn’s arrival in Japan and the 160th anniversary of his birth, the art exhibition called on even more artists and was this time held in the castle and Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum of Matsue city.

The collaboration of the 400 year old historical building and the modern art created a unique atmosphere.

On both occasions, a sculpture of the same name as the exhibition, created by New York artist Noda Masaaki, was erected in Athens and in Matsue. In 2011, as one of its international locations, the exhibit was held in New York.

There the art was displayed along with the addition of a display of beautifully bound original publications of Hearn’s works (property of Efstathiou).

The New Orleans exhibit is being held in 2012 in cooperation with Tulane University. Respect for Hearn’s open mind is continually growing, and the exhibition will be held in Toyama Prefecture (Japan), where is located “Lafcadio Hearn Library”, in 2014.