Meadows exhibition celebrates the worst photos in our family albums
SHREVEPORT, LA - The Meadows Museum of Art at Centenary College will host "Awkward Family Photos—The Exhibition" from February 12 through April 16. This exhibition, which includes over a hundred classic Awkward Family Photos and hilarious "behind the awkwardness" stories from the actual families, was curated and designed by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack, creators of the viral website AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com, which gets millions of hits daily.
AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com, the website, was launched in 2009 when Bender saw an odd vacation photo in his parents' house. Realizing there were probably plenty of other people with their own unusual family pictures, he set out with childhood friend Chernack to create a friendly place where people could share their own funny images. The site quickly took off and became an internet sensation, receiving daily submissions from around the world.
"Awkward Family Photos—The Exhibition" aims to explore the perfectly imperfect moments that come with the family experience and provide a place for people to celebrate the awkwardness while taking comfort in the fact that their family is not alone.
None of this would be possible without generous participation from the awkward families who so bravely sent in their photos. It is the hope of the Awkward Family Photos' creators that this exhibition will "bring all our families a little closer together as we acknowledge those special times when we wished we were a lot farther apart."
Visitors are invited to a free opening reception with food and drink on February 13 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., hosted by the Friends of the Meadows Museum. MUGS Photo Booth will be on site so visitors can create and leave with an awkward photo of their own.
Community Poetry Reading
On April 1, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., the public is invited to bring awkward (or exceptionally skilled) family poems to complement or counterbalance the Awkward Family Photos exhibition. Special guest Genaro Kỳ Lý Smith will be headlining the event with selections from his recent book, The Land Baron's Sun: The Story of Lý Loc and His Seven Wives. Genaro Kỳ Lý Smith was born in Vietnam. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Ruston, LA, where he teaches literature, composition, and creative writing at Louisiana Tech University. Wine and snacks will be provided.
About the Meadows Museum of Art
The Meadows Museum of Art is located on the campus of Centenary College of Louisiana at 2911 Centenary Boulevard in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Museum is free and open to the public Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturdays from 12-4 p.m. For more information or to schedule fieldtrips, call the Museum at 318.869.5040 or visit www.centenary.edu/meadows.