Commemorating the End of the Secret War Art Exhibition | UWL Lowe Center for the Arts

Exhibition Dates: October 20 – November 17
1st Floor Lobby of the Lowe Center for the Arts
Dialogue Space (wall outside the UWL Art Gallery)

Join us for an exhibition commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the Secret War in Laos and honoring the enduring strength of the Hmong and Lao people. Through the photographs of Ernest Kuhn and Galen Beery, this collection reflects on loss, resilience, and remembrance in the aftermath of conflict. At its heart stands the Joss Paper Eagle, a sculptural tribute crafted from ceremonial paper used in Hmong spiritual traditions to honor ancestors. As the mascot of the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, the eagle symbolizes vision, strength, and perseverance—qualities that here take on new meaning as a cultural offering to those who were lost. Together, these works invite reflection on the lasting cost of war and the power of memory to heal, connect, and endure.

This exhibition was conceived and curated by Yia Vue, whose research and creative work explore Hmong history, war memory, and the enduring legacies of conflict in Southeast Asia. Developed in collaboration with volunteer faculty and students, the project brings together historical photography, cultural symbolism, and contemporary reflection.

This exhibition is made possible through the support of UWL’s Departments of Art, Archaeology, Theatre & Dance, and Race, Gender, and Sexuality (RGS), as well as the office of Access, Belonging, and Compliance (ABC), and the La Crosse Historical Society, among other partners dedicated to preserving and sharing these important histories.