Lines with Power and Purpose: Editorial Cartoons
On a daily basis, editorial cartoonists deliver biting social commentary made palatable through amusing and well-crafted illustration. Lines with Power and Purpose: Editorial Cartoons features fifty-one original editorial cartoons from the nation’s great metropolitan newspapers during the Golden Age of print journalism. Included in the mix are six Pulitzer Prize–winning cartoonists, each demonstrating the theme of political commentary through editorial illustrations and addressing issues from the first half of the twentieth century.
These deceptively simple drawings frame the publics’ understanding of early-to-mid twentieth-century world events and trends ranging from the two world wars, the great depression, public discontent with the US government, presidential elections, daily battles regarding work-related rejection, nostalgia for homespun neighborhood charm in the Midwest, and more. Along the way, these cartoons served a dualistic intention: to provide welcomed comic relief as well as shape opinion.
The cartoonist draws strength from the limited conventions of the newspaper context. Just as the strict rules of a haiku challenge the poet to create exactly the right mood within the tight construction of very few words, the editorial cartoonist presents a powerful distillation of political argument through a single image and maybe a few well-placed labels or a short caption.
To accomplish this underappreciated feat, cartoonists develop their own language—a language taught to and subsequently shared with their readers. Standard symbols such as the oft-used Uncle Sam or Statue of Liberty evoke abstract concepts such as nation, patriotism, and public interest. On a darker side, cartoons reveal the inherent cruelty of prejudice, xenophobia, and ignorance.
Political humor relies on an informed and receptive audience. Headline stories prime newspaper readers to more quickly grasp the cartoonist’s unique take on the news of the day. A talented cartoonist makes even complex political arguments accessible to ordinary citizens. The friendly strokes of the cartoonist’s pen often belie the rawness and reality of the issues at hand. This exhibition of editorial cartoons convey how cartoons effectively expose hypocrisy, reveal contradictions, introduce news ideas, and promote fresh perspectives as news events unfold.
Included in this exhibition are Pulitzer Prize winners for Editorial Cartooning: Bruce Alexander Russell, Herbert Lawrence Block (Herblock), Charles G. Werner, C.D Batchelor, Charles R. Macauley, and Vaughn Shoemaker.
The Melton Gallery at the University of Central Oklahoma has housed this set of political cartoons for more than three decades.
From an evaluation from The Museum Broken Arrow (Broken Arrow, OK) about Lines with Power and Purpose: Editorial Cartoons:
“The Mid-America Arts Alliance allows smaller museums to bring in exhibitions that they would never be able to curate or arrange themselves. We were able to bring a new and different audience in to our museum. While our museum focuses on mostly local history, this exhibit allowed a more regional audience to enjoy the exhibition.”
Tour Schedule
Lines with power and Purpose: Editorial Cartoons is touring March 2018–January 2023. The dates below reflect five-week exhibition periods. Dates are subject to change; please contact MoreArt@maaa.org or (800) 473-3872 x208/209 for current availability.
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March 25–April 30, 2018
The Museum Broken Arrow
Broken Arrow, OK booked -
May 15–June 20, 2018
Temecula Valley Museum
Temecula, CA booked -
July 5–October 5, 2018
Louisiana's Old State Capitol
Baton Rouge, LA booked -
October 21, 2018 - January 19, 2019
University of Tennessee at Martin, Paul Meek Library
Martin, TN booked -
February 3–March 10, 2019
Park City Museum
Park City, UT booked -
March 25–June 20, 2019
Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County
Moorhead, MN booked -
July 5–August 16, 2019
Refurbishment
Kansas City, MO booked -
October 7, 2019–January 5, 2020
George Bush Presidential Library and Museum
College Station, TX booked -
January 31–March 8, 2020
Krasl Art Center
St. Joseph, MI booked -
May 15–June 20, 2020
Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Council Bluffs, IA booked -
July 5–October 5, 2020
General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum
Hobart, OK booked -
October 21–November 30, 2020
Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum
Temple, TX booked -
December 15, 2020–March 16, 2021
Sioux City Public Museum
Sioux City, IA booked -
March 25–April 30, 2021
Refurbishment
Kansas City, MO booked -
May 15–June 2, 2021
Save 50% off booking fees.
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July 5–August 16, 2021
Save 50% off booking fees.
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September 1–October 5, 2021
Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia
Athens, GA booked -
October 21–November 30, 2021
Save 50% off booking fees.
available -
December 15, 2021–January 19, 2022
Save 25% off booking fees.
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February 3–March 16, 2022
available -
March 25–April 30, 2022
available -
May 15–June 20, 2022
Sand Springs Cultural & Historical Museum
Sand Springs, OK booked -
July 5–August 16, 2022
available -
September 1–October 5, 2022
available -
October 21–November 30, 2022
available -
December 15, 2022–January 19, 2023
available
Exhibition Details
fifty-one framed cartoons
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Content
Fee Includes
Press Kit
Registrar’s Packet
Programming Guide
Gallery Guide
Text Panels
Narrative Labels
Full Insurance
Installation Instructions
Custom-Designed and Built Crates
Brochures -
Curated By
The Melton Gallery at the University of Central Oklahoma
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Organized By
ExhibitsUSA
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Out-of-Region Rental Fee
$2,550
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In-Region Rental Fee
$1,785
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Duration
5-week display
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Shipping
Van Line
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Running Feet
150
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Square Feet
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Security
Moderate B
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Number of Crates/Total Weight
estimated four crates/TBD
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Insurance
The exhibition is fully insured by ExhibitsUSA at no additional expense to you, both while installed and during transit.