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Give peace a chance at Gandhi exhibit

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By Don Thrasher, Contributing Writer Updated 11:17 AM Thursday, January 5, 2012

Transforming our culture of violence into a culture of peace has been the focus of the Dayton International Peace Museum, 208 W. Monument St., since opening in 2003. Given that mission statement, it was only a matter of time before the museum mounted a major exhibit on Mahatma Gandhi.

“We think it’s much better to teach nonviolence, kindness and the positive way of living rather than concentrating on what’s bad,” said museum founder and board of directors member Christine Dull. “That’s what Gandhi did, so I think he’s very appropriate for the Peace Museum.”

The new exhibit on the life of the legendary champion of nonviolence opens at the Peace Museum on Sunday. Dr. Joseph Kunkel, professor emeritus of philosophy at the University of Dayton, will present a speech on Gandhi at 2 p.m. that day. Light refreshments will be served.

“Gandhi is one of the great nonviolent leaders of the world,” Dull said. “He had a huge influence on Martin Luther King Jr., for example, so we think it fits very well.”

The exhibit, which runs through April, features three primary components, the first of which is a collection of framed photographs of Gandhi donated by a local couple.

“She and her husband were given 11 large black-and-white photographs from the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C., and they gave them to the Peace Museum,” Dull said. “We had them framed nicely, and they’re worth probably, at the very least, $400 each because they were taken from the original negatives.”

Part two of the new exhibit features panels detailing Gandhi’s history, from his birth in 1869 and his work in South Africa and India to his death in 1948. The third component is comprised of panels breaking down some of the spiritual leader’s personal philosophies.

“Each of those panels has three pictures covering a different aspect of Gandhi’s life,” Dull said, “There are panels on his spirituality, community, nonviolence, advocate for justice, a life of simplicity, solidarity with the poor and Gandhi’s global village.

“We also have one, Gandhi for today, meaning some of the things that are happening today like early on in the Egypt thing and there’s the Philippines,” Dull said. “There are just so many places that have overthrown leaders nonviolently as he did.”

The exhibit will also feature several special events, including a series of readings co-presented by the Dayton Theatre Guild. Although the dates haven’t been finalized, Dull expects these programs will occur in February and March.

Contact contributing arts and music writer Don Thrasher at donaldthrasher8@aol.com.

Gandhi exhibition

WhERE: Dayton International Peace Museum, 208 W. Monument St., Dayton

WhEN: Opens at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, with a speech by Dr. Joseph Kunkel, professor emeritus of philosophy at the University of Dayton. The exhibit runs through April.

COST: Free

MORE INFo: (937) 227-3223 or www.daytonpeacemuseum.org

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