The Great Sichuan Earthquake
This exhibition runs Wednesday, March 30, 2011 through Sunday, May 22, 2011
Grieving Woman, Wu Hezheng, Sichuan, China, May 17, 2008, digital photograph
China changed the afternoon of May 12, 2008 at 2:28 when an 8.0 earthquake in Sichuan toppled buildings, destroyed roads and left over 80,000 dead. The government responded immediately with a massive rescue effort, medical help, and then housing and rebuilding; but for the first time, tens of thousands of volunteers from all over China came to the quake zone to help out any way they could. Little noted in the west, the altruistic spirit of the earthquake volunteers, survivors and PLA stirred enormous pride among Chinese around the world. This is the first US exhibition of these photographs by Chinese who themselves participated in the relief work.
Gallery talk by Curator Patrick Dowdey
Wednesday, March 30, Noon