Read About the Exhibit's Sub-Themes HERE View our "Between Fences" slide show We live between fences. We may hardly notice them, but they are dominant features in our lives and in our history. Thousands of types have been invented, millions of miles have been produced, and countless rivals have seized post, rail, panel, and wire to stake their claims. Our past is defined by the cutting point of barbed steel and the staccato rhythm of the white picket. Built of hedge, concrete, wood and metal, the fence skirts our properties and is central to the American landscape. The United States as we know it could not have been settled and built without fences; they continue to be an integral part of our nation. Fences stand for security: we use them to enclose our houses and neighborhoods. They are decorative structures that are as much part of the landscape as trees and flowers. Industry and agriculture without fences would be difficult to imagine. Private ownership of land would be an abstract concept. But fences are more than functional objects. They are powerful symbols. The way we define ourselves as individuals and as a nation becomes concrete in how we build fences. Between Fences considers the fence in American history and culture. It challenges viewers to consider both how literal fences have shaped the American landscape and how we define ourselves metaphorically with borders and boundaries. What other fences—train tracks, rivers, mountain ranges, international borders—separate us? Other types of fences also shape America. Fences are felt physically, emotionally, socially, and are exhibited in many forms. Fences and boundaries have an impact on all people, all things, and all places. Fences interrupt the rhythm of space and perception. For more information on this local exhibition of Between Fences, call 815.234.5031 or send us an e-mail. |
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About the Exhibit |