For the past week, the D.H . Hill Library has housed an exhibit commemorating the repeal of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell military policy.
The policy affected homosexual individuals in military service, forcing them to stay silent about their sexual preferences while enlisted in service. The policy was repealed on Sept. 20, 2010
Artist and photographer Jeff Sheng commemorated the repeal of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy by combining his passion for political reform with his skilled eye in a collection of photographs taken of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell victims.
The photographs, which were on display until Friday of this week, were part of a larger collection of Sheng’s DADT series and only one of a larger group of socially motivated photography. Sheng also featured photographs of “out” GLBT athletes on high school and college sports teams. In addition, Sheng is constantly looking for new projects.
“My current project that I am working from 2011 to 2012 is about GLBT teen suicide,” Sheng said on his website recently.
Sheng spoke on campus on Tuesday, which was originally the full extent of his involvement here at N.C . State. This appearance was organized by State’s GLBT Center, who also suggested that Sheng’s artwork be displayed at D.H . Hill.
Marian Fragola , director of Program Planning and Outreach for NCSU Libraries, said that DH Hill was honored when they were asked if they would like to display some of Sheng’s work in coordination with his speech.
“Having the opportunity to see the pieces in person really gives the viewer a sense of the power of each photo,” Fragola said.
The photographs, viewable on Jeff Sheng’s website for those who missed the exhibit, display male and female soldiers. Sheng portrays them in household settings, while still in uniform. Though their full bodies are visible, Sheng makes a point of hiding their faces, either by hand or shadow.
The series speaks to a hidden identity, drawing a parallel between the subjects’ unseen faces and their inability to admit the truth while enlisted.
Sheng began working with the GLBT community in 2003 with his “Fearless” campaign around the United States.
“Many students have been stopping to look at the photos and read the information that accompanies them. As the intellectual center of campus, the Libraries often provides visibility for topics and ideas of interest to our students, faculty and staff,” Fragola said as a response to Sheng’s exhibit at State.
Sheng , who traveled to State from Los Angeles, where he teaches photography at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is a Harvard-educated and well known in Los Angeles galleries. His trip to State, coordinated by the GLBT Center, is a positive move toward increasing awareness of GLBT causes.
State’s further choice to display Sheng’s work marks an even bigger leap, forcing State’s many students to stop and take notice of social rights issues.
While this exhibit is focused on awareness of GLBT hardships, it holds a larger significance as it represents a minority group on campus and speaks to the need for other small groups to be noticed in a similar matter.
