Christina Emery
Staff Writer
cdemery@valdosta.edu

 The VSU Fine Arts Gallery is having its first exhibition of the fall semester. The photographs are from a traveling exhibition from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Museum. It features images of America taken between 1935 and 1942 by the legendary photographic unit of the (FSA) Farm Security Administration. The prints were produced in 2004 from negatives in the enormous FSA photographic collection.  This collection  consists of tens of thousands of images from the Library of Congress. The opening of this exibition started Monday, August 24.
  “The images are depicted from 10 famous photographers,” Julie Bowland, Fine Arts gallery director, said.�
 The photographers include Dorthea Lange, Russell Lee, Carl Mydans, Gordon Parks, Arthur Rothstein, Ben Shahn, John Vachan, Marion Post Wolcott, Jack Delano, and Walker Evans. They documented the lives and struggles of Americans enduring the Great Depression. Their works include some of the most familiar and powerful images of the nation to emerge from these difficult years.
 On  September 1 at 7 p.m. in the Sawyer Auditorium there was a panel discussion on the famous photos. This panel discussion included Jason Kassel (Poltical Science), Lai Orenduff  (Art/History), Gardner Rogers (English), and Louis Schmier (History).  They discussed different works and their take on some of the photos from the subjects they teach point of view. They also picked different photographers works to discuss.
 “ I am very proud and it’s been a long time coming to have this extraordinary work at VSU,” Bowland said.
 These photographers provide visual affirmation of President Roosevelt’s bold assertion in his inaugural address, which he delivered at the lowest point of the Great Depression: “This great nation will endure, will revive and will prosper…….the only thing we have to fear is fear itself….”
  This exhibit will only be around till September 11, 2009 and I promise it is a sight to see.