UNUSUAL CIVIL WAR EXHIBIT OPENS IN BURLINGTON JUST
AFTER ELECTION DAY

ZOUAVES, DEVILS & SASS

Well, if we think things are torn apart these days,
just look back to the 1860s.  Yet, even during those
terrible times, the wry humor inherent to the
American soul had an odd place to shine in the form of
envelopes printed with wisacre political cartoons.

This was an incredibly popular fad during the war
years, and those envelopes were avidly collected in
the post war period, much as we collect comic books or
baseball cards today.

Southern generals and politicians were lampooned, the
institution of slavery vilified, slain Union officers
beatified.  Grinning devils seem to support the
secessionists, and the unlikely vision of zoaves
wearing fezzes, bolero vests and red pantaloons
support the Union side.  The zouave uniform, based on
a 19th century French Morroccan military style, was
commonly worn by American soldiers at the start of the
Civil War.  While it looked great in pre war marches,
it proved useless in the field, and quickly gave way
to the blue and grey uniforms we remember and
associate with The War Between The States.

THE WILLING MIND, Historic Prints & Photographs, a new
art gallery on High Street in Burlington, has
digitally restored a fascinating selection of these
satirical cartoons, and has transformed them into
large format, decorative art prints.

ZOUAVES, DEVILS & SASS
Printed Envelopes And Political Satire During The
American Civil War

opens to the public Friday, November 5th, 5 to 8 PM.
There will be a preview of the exhibit up in the
windows of the old McCrory's 5 & 10 and in several
other storefronts along historic High Street in time
for the Historic Soldier's Weekend, October 29 through
31.  The exhibit, spread out as it is, adds to the
atmosphere of the High Street Stroll in Burlington.

Original Civil War envelopes from gallery owner Todd
Kimmell's collection will be on display in vintage
showcases in the gallery, while colossal versions of
the images, after much digital restoration, are
displayed and available  for purchase.

"We've managed to avoid the grimmest of the images",
notes Kimmell, "concentrating more on the ones that
gave the best razzberry to the secessionists.  The
humor, rough as some of it may be, still shines
through."

There is a remarkably noble image of a slave, clearly
thrilled to have recently been deemed 'contraband of
war'.  There is a decidedly odd series of images of
Lincoln boxing with all the Southern leaders.  And
then there all those Zouaves, and devils, as well!

Admission to the exhibition is free, and gallery hours
are Tuesday through Saturday, Noon to 6PM, other times
by chance or by appointment.  The windows of the
McCrory's and other store windows along High Street
are free and accessable to the public 24 hours a day!

For more information, contact Todd Kimmell at The
Willing Mind, 348 High Street, 609 386 8786

The exhibition may also be seen on line at
www.thewillingmind.com
also opening the first Friday in November.

****NOTES ON THE ATTACHED IMAGES****

Black Soldier With Parade Drum
This image, like so many in the exhibit, asks more
questions than it answers.  There was no caption with
this image.  Why?  What is it about this portrait that
would have been so instantly recognizable to Americans
in the 1860s that it needed no explanation?  His face
is neither angry nor surly, but rather remarkably
relaxed and content, anticipating but not anxious.  In
a medium rife with drawings that were often primitive
and hurried, this soldier seems to BE somebody... who?

Jefferson Davis 'taking' Washington
Suggesting that the South, despite all their bravado,
would never get closer to Washington DC than shooting'
it with a camera at considerable distance from
Virginia, this image is typical of the satirical style
common in the printed envelopes of the time.

The extention of this exhibit to the storefronts of
High Street was made possible by a generous grant from
The River's Edge Arts League, Burlington, NJ