"We Are Still Watching"
Exhibit Portfolio 2021
Artist Talk Video from Exhibit in Kansas City MO Feb. 2021
https://youtu.be/5axE0uvpj-o?si=8ds4-XlpprN_TFt4
https://youtu.be/LcaWxw-b7d4
9 News Interview
https://www.9news.com/video/news/community/73-badb9a35-46d6-429d-93a9-e4a1cbb78804
"I believes that in order to understand our humanity, we must first look outside of self and into the eyes and struggles of others, only then will we find our true purpose." Louise Cutler
"We Are Still Watching": Art and Poetry by Louise Cutler
The exhibit “We Are Still Watching” was inspired by a piece of art I created a few years ago entitled “Screams Of The Blkman.” One particular image of Huey Newton, where only his eyes were visible, stood out to me. His eyes seemed to be watching from the shadows, questioning how far we had come. This piece drew me back after two years, and the eyes seemed to be saying there was more to tell. This led me to create the exhibit “We Are Still Watching.”
In my research, I revisited old historical photos and uncovered the often untaught parts of our history. This process resulted in thirty-eight 12x12 historical photo montages and eight repurposed hanging door panels dedicated to exploring man's inhumanity to man. One installation revisits a line from "The Merchant of Venice": “If You Shoot Me, Will I Not Die?”
I grew up learning a victor’s version of history, missing out on many truths. History is often written by the winners, and I wanted to find and present the other side. Through exhibitions across the U.S., “We Are Still Watching” can reach a broader audience and address the current social climate. It reveals the blurred lines between truth and lies, right and wrong, and the resulting desensitized youth with historical amnesia.
George Santayana’s quote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” is a guiding principle for the exhibit. You can’t remember what you haven’t been taught. Our history should be studied, taught, and learned from, not forgotten or softened for future generations.
The exhibit also highlights the faithful men and women from our past who paved the way for us. They are now reaching out from the shadows, asking what happened to the dream they envisioned. Their works, aimed at achieving freedoms, rights, and equalities, have seen some fulfillment, but we need to continue their legacy.
“We Are Still Watching” offers a personal journey for each viewer, removing blinders and exposing the truth. As a mother of three, I’m concerned about the incomplete and biased education my children receive, especially given today's political climate. Propaganda in schools and media has become the new truth, and it’s unfair to teach our children half-truths.
W.E.B. Du Bois wrote about the tendency to forget or distort the negative aspects of history. This results in a loss of history’s value as an incentive and example. By only remembering the credible and inspiring parts, we lose the full truth. The exhibit presents individuals from the past uniquely, reminding us to continue what they started.
During the exhibit’s opening night in Fort Collins, an older woman thanked me with tears in her eyes for presenting the truth. A young man returned the next day, overwhelmed by the exhibit's impact. My desire is for this exhibit to travel globally, touching millions and changing a nation.
“We Are Still Watching” invites viewers to engage with untold stories of injustice, poverty, and war. This compelling body of work asks viewers to participate in carrying the stories and works of these faithful individuals forward. Through QR codes, each piece allows for deeper engagement, asking, “Will you sit back and reap the benefits of their faithfulness, or will you join the great cloud of witnesses and press on toward the finish line?”
Louise Cutler
Shop Art Print from the "We Are Still Watching" Exhibit Here
