Museum guests will find the large Centennial Hall gallery filled with a new traveling exhibit starting on December 14, just in time for winter break. Sign of the Times: The Great American Political Poster 1844-2012 will showcase vibrant and creative political posters, many of which were designed by well-known artists such as Ben Shahn and Alexander Calder, amongst others.
Through time, the American political poster has been sorely neglected as an art form and has played a minor cultural role despite its effectiveness in conveying a political message to millions of voters often through the skillful use of visual communication. According to Castle Museum marketing assistant and political historian Dr. Katherine Ellison, “In an era before mass communication was possible, politicians’ messages were often brought to their constituents through the use of vibrant and memorable campaign posters and memorabilia. Sign of the Times is an important exhibit because it showcases this earlier era of politics from a new perspective—that of the art and artists involved—in trying to win these elections. And how the medium changed with modern communications.”
Sign of the Times has made every effort to bring eye-popping political graphics to the forefront and show the great American political poster as art.
Sign of the Times was curated by Hal Wert, Ph.D., collector and professor of history at Kansas City Art Institute, and organized by Exhibits USA/Mid-America Arts Alliance. It will fill the Castle Museum’s Centennial Hall exhibit space until January 19, 2024.
The Castle Museum is open seven days a week. For questions or information, contact the Museum at 989-752-2861.
Castle Museum’s ‘Sign of the Times’ exhibit opens Dec. 14
