UALR Gallery-- The Association for Creative Zoology, Beauvais Lyons
- Ongoing: until Friday, November 20, 2009
- Sunday: 2:00pm
- Monday: 9:00am
- Tuesday: 9:00am
- Wednesday: 9:00am
- Thursday: 9:00am
- Friday: 9:00am
- Where: University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Gallery II - October 8 November 20, 2009
The Association for Creative Zoology, Beauvais Lyons
The UALR Gallery Program is pleased to present "The Association for Creative Zoology," an exhibition by Beauvais Lyons, Director of the Hokes Archives at theUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville.
The exhibition consists of a display on behalf of The Association for Creative Zoology, a nearly century-old organization advocating for creation science. Dressed as a preacher from the early 20th century, Lyons claims the display is a reconstruction of one that was once presented at the famous "Monkey Trial" of John Scopes, a science teacher who was once prosecuted for teaching the Theory of Evolution in Dayton, Tennessee. Despite the historic appearance of the exhibition kiosk, the many meticulously drawn lithographs of rare and unusual hybrid animals, the fossil "evidence" and the taxidermy "specimens," the presentation is a complete invention. Like other projects from the Hokes (pronounced "hoax") Archives, the exhibition is an elaborate work of academic fiction. For more in the Hokes Archives, see the website at: http://web.utk.edu/~blyons/
Artistic precedence for "The Association for Creative Zoology" may be found in the literary and cinematic traditions of mock-documentation, from the short stories of Jorge Luis Borges to Woody Allen's movie Zelig. Lyons creates works of fiction that push the boundaries of credibility by employing the conventions of non-fiction.Lyons' previous work has been cited in Lawrence Weschler's book Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder (Pantheon, 1995) and Linda Hutcheon's book Irony's Edge: The Theory and Politics of Irony (Routledge, 1994).
"The Association for Creative Zoology" is a response to public discourse regarding the teaching of the Theory of Evolution in public schools, and claims that Intelligent Design offers a alternative scientific theory. By advancing an imaginary theory of creation science, "The Association for Creative Zoology" offers an object lesson is skepticism, encouraging viewers to reflect on the ways that art and science, myth and reality, truth and fiction intersect. As a work of academic parody, this exhibition functions on several levels. Firstly, there is the question whether the work is art or science, imaginary or real. On a second level, while some viewers may understand the "Theory of Zoomorphic Juncture," or "animal collage" as scientifically flawed, they may be unclear whether the Association for Creative Zoology really existed in 1925, and whether the presentation is historically accurate. Thirdly, as a work of art that appears to be a facsimile of a historical artifact, the project raises questions about the role and identity of art. Finally, the project tests the ways that beliefs about the world are formed.
"The Association for Creative Zoology" will be on view October 8 November 20, 2009 in Gallery II of the Fine Arts Building on the UALR Campus.
September Mid May Gallery Hours:
M F 9am 5 pm
Sunday 2 5 pm
Closed Saturday and University Holidays
Mid May August Summer Gallery Hours
M F 9 am 3 pm
Closed Weekends and University Holidays
This event was posted Sept. 28, 2009 and last updated Oct. 5, 2009
