I’ll Carry Mine Too!, 1943 Photographer: Valentino Sarra Lithograph

On view in the Attleboro Arts Museum’s Ottmar Gallery and at www.attleboroartsmuseum.org: July 7th – 22nd, 2020 Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm

During World War II, a series of patriotic posters proudly hung in the storefront windows of London’s Department Store in downtown Attleboro, MA (the current location of the Attleboro Arts Museum). 

At the time, the London Family sold war bonds to support military efforts and displayed these US government-issued posters designed to touch the hearts and minds of Americans on the home front. Poster messaging was far-ranging and included appeals to work collectively to produce the supplies needed for overseas troops, calls for conservation championing carpooling to save on gas, warnings against wasting food and prompts to collect scrap metal to recycle into military materials.

In 1942, rationing programs were implemented setting limits on everyday purchases.

Re-opening  to the public  at 10 am on Tuesday,  July 7th.

While most posters were patriotic in nature, some tapped into fear or applied hateful renderings.  There were powerful visuals depicting Americans living in the shadow of Axis domination and caricatures with racist imagery that warped human features. 

Today, these posters offer a glimpse into the nation’s climate during WWII and how propaganda was used to link the home front to the front lines.

The nearly 30 posters on view were selected from the Attleboro Arts Museum’s permanent collection.  These holdings were donated to the Museum by David and Toby London. 

David’s parents, Max and Fannie, were the founders and operators of London’s Department store and their impressive wartime poster collection was featured in the 2009 Museum retrospective “Historic American Posters: 1939 – 1945, From the Private Collection of Toby and David London.”

Today’s “Sign of the Times” exhibition offers a handful of copies shown during the 2009 show, but primarily presents a fresh round of vintage graphics donated to the museum by the London Family.

The in-gallery exhibit, along with a companion online show on www.attleboroartsmuseum.org, will run from July 7th – 22nd.   Executive Director and Chief Curator, Mim Brooks Fawcett, comments “The remarkably pristine condition of the posters in ‘Sign of the Times’ can be attributed to Fannie London’s respect for the US government-issued works and her great foresight. 

Throughout the war years the posters would arrive at the department store by mail from Washington, D.C. and hang in the store’s windows on Park Street.  

After displaying a poster, Mrs. London would carefully fold, store and catalogue it – and then hang the newly arrived piece.” The posters in “Sign of the Times” were part of that cycle.  

Fawcett continues, “In a year consumed with public health crises and critical movements that have altered our concepts of health, safety and equity, I can’t help but draw parallels between the messages in the exhibition’s posters and certain contemporary struggles.

America’s Answer! Production, 1942  Artist: Jean Carlu Lithograph

Production of personal protective equipment, the need for a greater sense of community and partnership are issues that we are facing today.” 

Re-opening the Attleboro Arts Museum Museums in Massachusetts fall under Phase 3 of the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 re-opening plan.  On Thursday, July 2nd Governor Charlie Baker gave the green light for Phase 3 to begin and with the Museum’s standard summer schedule of Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm, the organization will re-open to the public on Tuesday, July 7th.  “Sign of the Times” is the first Attleboro Arts Museum in-gallery exhibition since the organization closed its doors in March due to the coronavirus.  

To ensure the health and safety of museum visitors, art students and staff members, all guests are being asked to adhere to the following guidelines:

Masks are required for entry and will be provided if needed.

Temperature checks are required for entry.

Visitors will be asked to provide information for contact tracing.

Lydia Dunham Sweet and Daughter, Ann Elizabeth Sweet (modified image) by Leprilete Sweet; oil. Attleboro Arts Museum Permanent Collection.

A social distance of 6-feet must be maintained • Guests visiting the gift shop will be given gloves • A limited number of visitors will be allowed in the Museum at any given time

Additional re-opening details can be found on the museum’s website:

www.attleboroartsmuseum.org

MASKerpieces