The La Salle University Art Museum is honoring Philadelphia artist Jane Irish. Irish’s material comes from La Salle’s Connelly Library’s Imaginative Representation of the Vietnam War collection. The exhibit War is Not What You Think features a mural called The Conversation, which is Irish’s take on how the Vietnam War has affected American life and how it is relevant to today.
“A few years ago, we thought that we should have Jane show some of the work here, since it is inspired by this collection and we also just appreciated her work. It was really exciting to have that connection. We were really happy to have the show here and at the library at the same time. This is giving [visitors] an opportunity to view that collection of materials that are artistic, creative responses to the Vietnam experience,” said Carmen Vendelin, curator of art at the La Salle University Art Museum.
Irish took two trips to Vietnam and during that time she began painting. “As someone that was a young person during the Vietnam War, it’s something that really shaped her world view and experience and is something she just keeps thinking about so it still remains relevant,” Vendelin said.
The two-part exhibition has paintings, prints, graphics, ceramic art and music clips as visual and audio media. “I found the art exhibit to be exciting and very informative because of my husband serving in the Vietnam War. I saw joy, sorrow, even at times peace in the paintings. The poetry showed true emotions” said LaVern Browne, a visitor to the museum.
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