The
project, sponsored by the Holter Museum of Art in Helena, Montana, challenged
artists to “transform, incorporate or otherwise respond to books of hate
propaganda published by the World Church of the Creator.” Participating artists were provided copies of
the books from the Montana Human Rights Network, which had previously acquired
and taken them out of circulation.
The
books included volumes with such explosive titles as The
White Man’s Bible and
RaHoWa, an acronym for “racial holy war.” The project anchored Kamm’s sabbatical
activities during spring semester 2007, when he served as artist-in-residence
at the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion at Wesley Theological
Seminary in Washington, D.C. At that
time he began working on a series of text-based collages that sought to achieve
the transformation required for the project. The collages were created from acid-free photocopies of text clipped
from “The
White Man’s Bible,” which were cut into pieces roughly the size and shape of
matches, and reassembled in a style reminiscent of various folk arts.
“Perhaps because I was working in a seminary at the time
this project began, my response primarily addressed the anti-Christian aspects
of the hate books,” Kamm said. “Upon
first seeing the collages, a friend suggested that matches were an appropriate
metaphor for such inflammatory material. The collages are based on the format of a cross, which for Christians is
a potent symbol of transformation.”
One of
the collages was included in a group exhibition at the Holter Museum of Art in
early 2008 that featured work from all of the artists involved in the
project. Kamm’s piece is also included
in a smaller touring show that is traveling throughout Montana through 2011.
The art show is opening in conjunction with Martin
Luther King, Jr., Day activities at Iowa Wesleyan.
Kamm is assistant professor art and coordinator of the
art gallery at Luther College in Decorah. He holds a bachelor’s degree in art
education and both an MA and MFA in printmaking.
The Iowa Wesleyan College Art Gallery is located in the P.E.O. Administration Building. The Gallery is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. It is open to the public at no charge.
