Baltimore, MD -- Bringing post-modern cultural presentation theory into practice, the Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery presents Framing the Exhibition: Multiple Constructions, an ambitious experimental exhibition that will underscore the otherwise silent machinations of museum practice. Coordinated by the Kuhn Gallery's Curator of Exhibitions Cynthia Wayne, UMBC Associate Professor of American studies Dr. Leslie Prosterman, with consultation of Chief Curator Tom Beck, this exhibition will underscore usually transparent exhibition assumptions and strategies.

Framing the Exhibition will incorporate approximately 37 prints from 1928 through 1997 drawn from the Library's Special Collections. Photographers whose works will be shown include Berenice Abbott, Marilyn Bridges, Cary Beth Cryor, Imogen Cunningham, Walker Evans, Lotte Jacobi, Mary Ellen Mark, David Plowden, and James Van Der Zee, among others. While the arrangement of the images will in itself convey three different narrative themes, the real interest of the exhibition will be the innovative use of each photograph to examine the nature and assumptions of classical museum exhibition styles.

Since interpretation shifts with context, each incorporated image will be available for interpretation in an art historical style, a historical and cultural style, and a photojournalistic or media-related style. All of the images will be positioned under the following headings: Modernism and Documentation in 20th Century Photography; Work & Leisure of the Last Century; and Faces and Places of the 20th Century. The exhibition is an experiment in critical inquiry into museum presentations and their relationship to the construction of social, cultural, political and financial value.

After a preview tour at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5, an accompanying Symposium will be held in the Library Gallery from 4 - 6 p.m. and will feature co-curator Leslie Prosterman, Associate Professor, UMBC's department of American studies; Allan Wallach, Professor of American studies, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia; Steven C. Newsome, Director of the Anacostia Museum and the Smithsonian's Center for African American History & Culture, Washington, D.C.; and Preminda Jacob, Assistant Professor of art history and theory, UMBC's department of visual arts. A reception will follow the symposium.

An illustrated catalogue will be available for sale to the public during the run of the exhibition.

Framing the Exhibition is supported in part by the Chesapeake Chapter of the American Studies Association, the Baltimore County Commission on the Arts & Sciences, the Friends of the Library & Gallery, and by an operations program grant from the Maryland State Arts Council. At UMBC support has been provided by the Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Office of the Dean of Arts & Sciences, Office of Institutional Advancement, the Humanities Center, the Special Sessions Policy Committee and the Departments of Ancient Studies, American Studies, History, and Visual Arts.

The Kuhn Library Gallery is located on the first floor of the Kuhn Library located on UMBC's campus and is open Monday - Friday, Noon - 4:30 p.m., Thursday until 8 p.m., Saturday 1 - 5 p.m. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, please call (410) 455-2270 or visit www.umbc.edu/arts.