Tracker Pixel for Entry

Picturing Nam

Arts | May 1st, 2019

Twentieth century angel of mercy — Navy Hospital Corpsman D. R. Howe - Glencoe, MN treats the wounds of Private First Class D A. Crum - Fifth Marine Regiment during Operation Hue City - Sergeant William F. Dickman, February 6, 1968

Minnesota State University Moorhead held their grand opening of Picturing Nam: U.S. Military Photography of the Vietnam War last Thursday at the Roland Dille Center for the Arts. The exhibition is the final installment of the Minnesota Remembers Vietnam initiative from MSUM and will run through May 25.

Picturing Nam will be a one-of-a-kind experience in that visitors to the art gallery will be able to see some photographs and images that have not been previously available for public viewing.

“A lot of the images have not been published before,” MSUM Gallery Director Wendy Fuglestad said. “I believe the exhibition mentions that during the war, while reporters took lots of photos, the U.S. government was pretty careful about the photos that they released for publication at the time.”

Fuglestad said some of the pictures are large, up to 89 inches wide. One depicts a man from Minnesota, adding to the impact of the images on people from this area.

Sky Trooper from the First Cavalry Division Airmobile keeps track of the time he has left on his short time helmet while participating in Operation Pershing near Bong Son - Specialist Frank Moffitt 1968

“I’ve actually heard that someone broke down crying this last weekend when viewing it,” Fuglestad said. “I think it’s very touching for a lot of people, especially vets. One thing that I’ve really noticed in a lot of these pictures is how young…I know for sure, one of them depicted is 17, but he looks like he’s 14, in my opinion.”

While the images can be somewhat graphic and conjure up emotional responses, the exhibition is open to people of all ages.

An interesting tidbit about the exhibition is the correlation between it and the timing of its release.

“I don’t know for sure if it’s coincidence or intentional, but this last year was the 50th anniversary of Vietnam [War],” Fuglestad said. “There might be some significance there, but they don’t mention it.”

Fuglestad said they have known for about a year and a half that they would be hosting the exhibition. She also said that it has traveled around the United States, but she believes this is the only time it will be shown in Minnesota.

A Montagnard child watches the convoy moving toward Plei Djerang. The convoy is carrying men and equipment to the armed assault -  Specialist Christopher Childs May 14 1970 National Archives Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer

“Everything is on loan from the National Archives,” Fuglestad said. “Prior to us, it was at a military museum called Patriot’s Point in South Carolina. It’s kind of a prepackaged show curated by them.”

The images are presented with complete didactic information as well as all of the information that could be collected, including the names of those in the photograph.

The exhibition is free and open to the public. Fuglestad said the gallery is generally open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and until 5 p.m. on Saturdays. She said visitors can come and view pieces at their own pace.

Shireen Alemadi, who is Assistant Director for Community Engagement of the Center for Engaged Learning at MSUM, wrote a grant for MSUM to host Picturing Nam as part of Minnesota Remembers Vietnam.

According to a press release from MSUM, “Minnesota Remembers Vietnam is an initiative led by Twin Cities PBS, aimed at inspiring Minnesotans to remember, share stories, recognized bravery, express their reasons for dissent, and foster understanding around the lasting impact of war.”

Da Nang Vietnam - A young Marine waits on the beach during the Marine landing - unknown photographer August 3 1965 National Archives Records of the United States Marine Corps

Picturing Nam is presented in part by the Lawrence F. O’Brien Family, Pritzker Military Museum & Library, AARP, and the National Archives Foundation.

IF YOU GO 

Picturing Nam: U.S. Military Photography of the Vietnam War 

Now through May 25 

MSUM Roland Dille Center for the Arts Gallery

1104 7th Avenue S, Moorhead

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.com Ten North Dakota communities will participate in the nationwide No Kings Day of Peaceful Action on October 18. The grassroots movement is a nonviolent protest against President Trump’s…

By Michael M. Millermichael.miller@ndsu.edu I would like to recognize some of the scholarly Germans from Russia from Canada and USA shared on the GRHC website. There are additional names not included here. If you have suggestions…

Friday, October 31, doors 8 p.m. show starts at 8:30 p.m.The Aquarium above Dempey’s, 226 N. Broadway, FargoThe annual Aquarium Halloween Cover Show is back and it is stacked. And this time there are a limited amount of presale…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com At the end of September, downtown Fargo said goodbye to another old friend; the Spirit Room closed its doors, marking the end of an era. The Spirit Room room has been a fixture downtown for the…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comThat old time religion, filled with love, is no longer good enough In the first “Inherit the Wind” movie about religion and evolution starring Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, and Gene Kelly, the…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gion and Nichole Hensenrickgion@gmail.com The wait is finally over. Those who have visited Nichole’s Fine Pastry & Cafe lately know about the recent major additions and renovations that have taken place over the past…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Dakotah Faye is a hip-hop artist from Minot, North Dakota, and he’s had a busy year. He’s released two albums. This summer he opened for Tech N9ne in Sturgis and will be opening for Bone…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com Now available on Amazon Prime following its world premiere last month as the opening night selection of the Toronto International Film Festival’s golden anniversary, “John Candy: I Like…

By HPR staffsubmit@hpr1.com Mark the first weekend of October on your calendar. It’s the weekend of the Studio Crawl, which takes us all on a wonderful, metro-wide tour of our talented (and often wacky) arts community. On October…

Press release“Shakespeare with a sharpened edge.” To launch its 2025 – 2026 season, Theatre NDSU is thrilled to team up with Moorhead-based organization Theatre B to perform a co-production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

By Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com When we are sick, all we want is a cure. You go to the doctor, they give you a pill, you take it for a bit, then you are cured. It happens. But unfortunately, it is not always the case. …

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson@rocketmail.comMoral accountability and the crisis of leadership  As a recovering person living one day at a time for the last 35 years, I have learned not to judge others because I have not walked in…