Tanekwah Hinds '15 and Ann H. Sievers ’69 Co-Curated Exhibit of Works by Thomas Nast

Tanekwah Hinds ’15, working with Ann H.  Sievers ’69, the director of the University of St. Joseph Art Gallery, co-curated an exhibition now on view at the gallery in Connecticut. The Noise of Democracy: Thomas Nast and the Elections of 1872 and 1876, which runs through December 9, examines the issues and personalities that shaped the presidential elections of 1872 and 1876. Hinds and Sievers gave a gallery talk on Tuesday, October 9.

Hinds worked on this exhibit as part of her summer curatorial internship with the Art Gallery. “My favorite part was the hands-on work,” said Hinds, who studies both art history and political science at Wellesley. “You realize how delicate the art is, and experience the sense of the passing-down of history which during the period didn’t seem important.”

Thomas Nast drew for Harper’s Weekly during the contentious second term election of Ulysses S. Grant as well as the first disputed American presidential election, eventually won by Rutherford B. Hayes. His cartoons helped shape opinion on key issues of the day, including monetary policy and the separation of church and state. His work is also notable for its codification of the elephant and donkey symbols for the American political parties.

"My internship...incorporated both of my prospective majors, art history and political science," Hinds said.

This academic year, Hinds is serving as orientation leader for Obama for America and the Black Arts Chair of Ethos. She also planned an event, held in October, called the (un)Spoken Word.

—Gabrielle Linnell '13