A new exhibit featuring the work of professor and photographer Alec R. Hosterman will open at Troy University’s Rosa Parks Museum on July 24.
A free meet-and-greet reception is set for 6 p.m. in the museum’s exhibit hall, and the exhibit will be on display through Nov. 1.
The exhibit, “There’s Just Us,” features Hosterman’s photography of the August 2017 Unite the Right protests in Charlottesville, VA.
“In August of 2017, I went to Charlottesville, Virginia to photograph the Unite the Right protests, first at the University of Virginia on Friday the 11th and then at Market Street Park on the 12th,” Hosterman said. “I saw the torches and watched the march. I read the signs and heard the vitriol. I witnessed the violence and heard about Heather Heyer’s death. I didn’t know what to think. I was in shock.”
On that Saturday, Hosterman attended a memorial for the victims who were injured when James Alex Fields drove his car into a crowd of pedestrian, killing Heyer and injuring dozens of others.
“Community members took turns speaking,” he said of the memorial gathering. “I heard one person say, ‘There’s no justice; there’s just us.’ I began to think about that statement and what it could mean. There’s Just Us represents the struggle communities face when fighting hate, racism, and bigotry, and of the collective voices that are brave enough to stand up against all odds. Together, we can remember the voices of those who were silenced all too soon and work to make this world a better place to live – for everyone.”
Hosterman said that through his photography he seeks to “tell stories one frame at a time.”
“As a photographer, I believe that images have the power to teach us important lessons about life and culture,” he said. “My images represent the unique stories of the places I have visited, the history I have seen, and the people I have met. As a professor, I believe that images create a dialogue with viewers. When looking at an image, I believe we create a common ground with them. We learn from them. We argue with them. We emote with them. We identify with them.”
Originally from South Bend, IN, Hosterman has made his home in Farmville, VA since 2014. He is an Associate Professor of Communications Studies at Longwood University and teaches courses in public relations, digital and social media and visual communication. He also consults with businesses and teaches photography classes at a local art studio.
Prior to moving to Virginia, he served as a senior lecturer and Chair of the Communication Studies program at Indiana University South Bend.
Hosterman earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from Aquinas College, his Master of Arts in speech communication from Ball State University and his Ph.D. in technical communication and rhetoric from Texas Tech University. He has been involved in photography for more than 20 years.
Gallery exhibits at the Rosa Parks Museum are available for free viewing during regular business hours. For additional information, contact the Rosa Parks Museum at 334-241-8615.
