Current Events Series #2: Paul Rucker’s “REWIND” at York College of Pennsylvania

On Thursday, August 31, 2017, York College of Pennsylvania’s art gallery debuted a new exhibit: Paul Rucker’s REWIND. The Wolf Hall-based exhibit, which is scheduled to operate until Saturday, October 21, 2017, features a variety of installations that center around the “current issues of power and injustice in America.” Due to the graphic nature of the temporary exhibit, some may feel uncomfortable and upset by its material. However, as explained in the REWIND newspaper’s 3rd edition, “Rucker’s work is not necessarily to be liked” — rather, the artist intended to provide guests with thought-provoking material that is ultimately “hard, difficult[,] and uncomfortable” in nature. In the following section, a preview of the material featured in Paul Rucker’s exhibit will be showcased and discussed.

A photo of a wood sculpture from the “Soundless Series” installation featured in Paul Rucker’s exhibit.

The Soundless Series is composed of a wide range of wood sculptures that were designed to “[resemble] string instrument bodies.” Despite their visual association with music, each of these wood sculptures is ultimately soundless and serves as a reminder of one or more individuals that were silenced in the aftermath of a hate crime. The wood sculpture pictured above this text, for example, is a reminder of the hate crime that occurred in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, which resulted in the death of civil rights activist Vernon Ferdinand Dahmer, Sr., on January 11, 1966.

A photo of a human target from one of the installations featured in Paul Rucker’s exhibit.

A multitude of throw blankets were designed for the exhibit to “capture [the] experiences of extreme human atrocity in objects [intended to provide those who use them with] comfort, warmth, and security.” The throw blanket pictured above is a “significantly modified” version “of a widely sold target.”
It provides viewers with a disturbing visual of an individual that has been targeted as a result of racial profiling. Additionally, the wall — painted a shade of red reminiscent of blood — that is behind the throw blanket further emphasizes the depicted act of violence.

A photo of a mannequin dressed in Ku Klux Klan-style attire from an installation featured in Paul Rucker’s exhibit.

One of the more controversial installations that is associated with the exhibit features a circle of mannequins dressed in Ku Klux Klan-style attire, some of which are representations of children. The exhibit was inspired by the artist’s “memories of rallies growing up in the South,” one of which he witnessed at rather close proximity on an otherwise “beautiful afternoon…downtown.” Furthermore, the child mannequins appear to represent the early indoctrination of many Klan members, which, in one documented instance, caused Rucker to “ponder the learned aspects of fear, faith, hatred, and love.” The diverse array of Ku Klux Klan-style robes that the mannequins pictured above are wearing were all designed by Paul Rucker.

Despite the presence of the Ku Klux Klan greatly decreasing over the years, racism is still prevalent in the United States. Within only the past 12 months, there have been numerous reports of hate crimes directed towards African American individuals, which have oftentimes been deadly. As a result of these racially motivated incidents, various movements such as Black Lives Matter have formed, their goal being to eradicate the existence of racism. These new movements in the United States, however, have been met with opposition by those who do not understand and/or do not support their progressive causes. Ultimately, it is only through the continuation of education about our history and the real threats to our country that society will change — and Rucker’s temporary art exhibit, REWIND, is contributing to such a societal change.

UPDATE (10/04/17):

Paul Rucker is currently scheduled to return to York College of Pennsylvania “for an encore performance in DeMeester Recital Hall” during the evening of Saturday, October 7, 2017. Those who are interested should arrive by 7 PM.

For more information regarding the event, please refer to the following link: https://yorkcollegegalleries.com/2017/09/26/2017-guggenheim-fellow-paul-rucker-to-perform-stories-from-the-trees-on-saturday-october-7/

Like and follow Paul Rucker on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Paul-Rucker-45364571837/

Works Cited

Rucker, Paul. “ONE LESS THING TO WORRY ABOUT.” REWIND Exhibition, www.rewindexhibition.com/koken/albums/one-less-thing-to-worry-about/.

Rucker, Paul. “REWIND.”

Rucker, Paul. “SOUNDLESS SERIES.” REWIND Exhibition, www.rewindexhibition.com/koken/albums/soundless-series/.

Rucker, Paul. “STORM IN THE TIME OF SHELTER.” REWIND Exhibition, www.rewindexhibition.com/koken/albums/storm-in-the-time-of-shelter/.

“2017 Guggenheim Fellow Paul Rucker to Perform ‘Stories from the Trees’ on Saturday, October 7.” York College Galleries Blog, 26 Sept. 2017, yorkcollegegalleries.com/2017/09/26/2017-guggenheim-fellow-paul-rucker-to-perform-stories-from-the-trees-on-saturday-october-7/.