Book
Datec. 1990 - 2017
MediumGouache, paper, metal, and binder's board
DimensionsClosed: 9 7/8 × 7 3/8 × 3 1/8 inches (25.1 × 18.7 × 7.9 cm)
Open: 9 7/8 × 14 7/8 inches (25.1 × 37.8 cm)
Portfolio/Series"The Ruse of Law" series
Credit LineGift of Mari Jo Marchnight.
Object number2020.3.1
CopyrightThe images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextUsing a Georgia state law book as her source material, Bertha Husband married text and painted narrative to raise questions over the alleged equal distribution of justice. Playing off the phrase of the “the rule of law,” the series 'The Ruse of Law' considers the often deceptive nature of justice. The series was a collective project between internationally-born but Savannah-based artists Bertha Husband, Asa Chibas, and Milutin Pavlovic. After rescuing the law books from a dumpster, each artist used the books to interpret their opinion and understanding of the legal system.
Husband made visually compelling works that addressed broader issues of political and social concern. Born in Scotland, Husband traveled extensively and exhibited internationally and was part of several artist collectives in her ongoing effort to show that art has the power to subvert and liberate.
Text written for the exhibition Complex Uncertainties: Artists in Postwar America, February 15, 2020 - May 1, 2022.
