"In Arms"

On the night of Mardi Gras, I decided to stop at the Lewis Center to see "In Arms," an autobiographical photo exhibit by Talia Nussbaum '10. Apparently it was near closing time. I was met not by the buzzing reception I had envisioned, but by an empty room choc-full of emotional tension, erotic sensuality, and sheer beauty (not to mention a very attractive older man). As I went from photo to photo, my party heels made noise and I felt irreverent.

"We're going to stay together as long as we are willing to make it work." I'd heard that line so many times before. In fact, I'd said it. These words came from the audio recordings accompanying the photos in the gallery. They were excerpts from interviews with the girlfriends of Israeli soldiers. Their boyfriends were currently fulfilling their mandatory military service. When describing their partners absence, each woman's tone was matter-of-fact... not nearly as emotional as I had expected. Their narratives were indicative of a state of acceptance, rather than grievance. It was a woman's war.

The rest of Talia's photos were even more intimate than the one featured on the poster (shown here). There were some of the partners alone, and a few of the couples together, 'in' each other's 'arms.' The men were photographed with their weapons... their eyes vacant and skirting the lens. Dutiful. As they avoided my gaze, they clutched their shiny, toy-like machine guns. A soldier's remote control. Even when the estranged couples were captured together, they looked dissatisfied, and again, the males never faced the camera. Solo, the women were usually scantily clad, if not completely nude. They were mostly reclining with peaceful facial expressions. They seemed one with their bodies. Rather, they seemed one with their difficult situations. In fact, their sentiment may not have been peace. It was meditation. Patience.

As you can see, Nussbaum's collection pulled me in many directions. The images evoked different meaning each time I pivoted and looked again. Yet she never let me forget the subject matter. It was of an Israel where violence is the norm. An Israel where these girlfriends had become accustomed to waiting. Waiting for the next time they'd see their lovers. Waiting for their frustration to pass. Contrary to their calm eyes and unwavering voices, these women were deteriorating along with their relationships.

Brava. [AKP]