Friends of the Fort Wayne Museum of Art are sharing their cherished stories with us! These Museum Memories come from community members recalling experiences at the FWMoA that made a positive impact. From inspiring exhibits to meaningful events, these moments remind us of our own transformative museum experiences. Today we learn about Janellyn Borden and her experiences with FWMoA.
As a former Board member and emeritus chair of the Development Committee, Janellyn Borden’s history with the Fort Wayne Museum of Art is filled with many hours of volunteering. While she retired from the Board in 2008, the impact of her years of service to the museum is still felt, and the memories she brings from her time on the Board serve as an inspiration for us.
One memory she shared with us recently is about the opening night of the exhibition, Requiem: By the Photographers Who Died in Vietnam and Indochina, in the spring of 2007. This exhibition featured photographs by well-known war photographers like Larry Burrows alongside work by photojournalists who were killed or reported missing in the Vietnam War. The photographs were curated by the thousands by photographers Horst Faas and Tim Page, who were themselves veterans of the war. Requiem was a tribute to the hundreds of American, European, Cambodian, and Vietnamese photographers who did not survive, and whose images tell to the world the story of the human lives that were affected by the war. Janellyn had this to say about her experience of involvement with the opening reception of the exhibit:
“As a former Board member who chaired the Development Committee, I was involved in helping with Opening Night of special exhibits. One year an upcoming exhibit featured Vietnam photographer Larry Burrows’ work. I wasn’t certain how many would attend this Opening, given its subject matter. Much to my surprise, the exhibit brought in a huge crowd with men and women standing in front of the dramatic war photographs, emotions etched on their faces. I realized then how important the Museum has been and continues to be in celebrating and honoring the important aspects of our lives through art.”
Years after Requiem was on display, its lasting impact is proof of Janellyn’s belief in the role of art to sustain and celebrate the memory of those who came before us, and to tell their stories with honor.
To see FWMoA’s rotating exhibits for yourself, plan your next visit!