---
title: Questioning the Bomb
date: 2015-09-04T15:11:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/questioning-bomb-58dda9d3-778b-4474-9534-f02bc4c29666"
section: Articles
---
# Questioning the Bomb

*September 4, 2015* — by [Alex Stoller](/author/alex-stoller)


> Poster Exhibition Takes on Nuclear Proliferation

*Poster tn 230x200 — Lannya Sommese*

A poster of a mushroom cloud made from the artist’s own blood. A joker in a gas mask juggling nuclear bombs. A fragile Japanese fan with singed folds.

These images are featured among more than 80 posters displayed at the Art Gallery this fall in “Questioning the Bomb.” The exhibition marks the 70th anniversary of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that ended World War II.

Professor James Thorpe ’73, M.F.A. ’76 partnered with colleagues at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and Colorado State University, Fort Collins on the exhibit, in which selected poster designers worldwide were invited to submit work. He participated in a similar show 30 years ago to commemorate the 40th anniversary.

For Thorpe, the exhibition is about capturing the history of the atomic bomb and expanding the conversation on nuclear nonproliferation. He fears that over time, people have numbed themselves to the danger posed by these weapons.

“As a group, our creative and reflective conscience demands a visual translation of human history, society and culture,” he says, “especially in regard to the rapid affects of technology on our global psyche.”

- Credit: Alain Le Quernec
*ALAIN LE QUERNEC HIROSHIMA small*
- Credit: David Tartakover
*David Tartakover The little boy got older small*
- Credit: Elizabeth Resnick
*Elizabeth Resnick In Memory of the Children Hiroshima and Nagaski 1945 small*
- Credit: Harry Pearce
*Harry Pearce E28093 Its all our blood poster AW small*
- Credit: Ivan Gazdov
*Ivan Gazdov WHAT IS NUCLEAR WASTE small2*
- Credit: James Thorpe
*Questioning the Bomb History and Non Proliferation Invitational Poster Exhibition James Thorpe Main Poster Graphic small*
- Credit: John Gravdahl
*John Gravdahl ALARM small3*
- Credit: Kelsey Marotta
*Kelsey Marotta Boom*
- Credit: Kirsten O'Loughlin
*Kirsten O Loughlin Now I am Become Death small*
- Credit: Kwang-Su Kim
*Kwang Su Kim Help Japan small*
- Credit: Lance Rutter
*Lance Rutter Pride meet vengeance small*
- Credit: Marlena Buczek-Smith
*Marlena Buczek Smith Untitled small*
- Credit: Parisa Tashakori
*Parisa Tashakori Dont forget August 1945 Hiroshima Nagasaki small2*
- Credit: Trinity Risbeck
*Risbeck Trinity small*


**Tags:** [Research](https://today.umd.edu/topic/research)