PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT: The Black & White Work of Paul Pearce

June 7, 2014 to July 19, 2014

Proof through the Night © Paul Pearce 1986

Proof Through the Night is a retrospective of traditional silver-based photography and lithographs by Paul Pearce, a certified disabled combat veteran who now declares himself to be a “backward observer”. His photography focuses on issues of war and morality and questions the very notion of civilization. In his words about what inspires him to photograph he states: “In spite of growing cynicism, I have a calling to declare a point of view, a mandate to cry out that (in my opinion), the sky is falling, and a gnawing need to expose a system that turns innocent children into monsters.”

Pearce was raised as an All-American boy, Sunday school attendee and college-bound Eagle Scout. He was drafted into the Army, commissioned as an artillery Lieutenant and ordered into combat in Vietnam as a forward observer with the 114th infantry. He returned from the war motivated to raise consciousness about the evils of war. Armed with a camera and a printing press he taught himself photography, struggled for peace and justice as an artist and anti-war activist, and participated in and documented antiwar protests including the massive action in Syracuse following the killings at Kent State.

 

Exhibition Sponsors: Esther Adelson, Donald Anbro, Sari & Doug Biklen,
John & Dolores Brule, Annemarie Deegan, Michael DeSalvo,
Carol Everingham, Lanny Freshman & Rae Kramer,
Bob Gates & Deborah Welsh, Diane Grafly,
Mike & Linda Greenlar, Tarki & Joe Heath, Ann Jamison,
Joe Leonard, Anthony Malavenda & Martine Burat,
Walter Putter & Marilyn Smith, Carole Resnick, Laurie Selleck,
Vince Sgambati & Jack Stevens, Ann Tiffany & Ed Kinane,
Ron Van Norstrand, Anita Welych and Richard & Helen Zakin.
Season Sponsors: Dik Cool, the Holtz Family Fund, Mary Kuhn,
Robert Sarason & Jane Burkhead, Jeff Unaitis and Amy Zamkoff.
 

Sustaining Sponsor: Ruth Putter