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# Wayne White Explores the Battle of Hampton Roads in Multi-Media Installation at Virginia MOCA
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/wayne-white-explores-the-battle-of-hampton-roads-in-multi-media-installation-at-virginia-moca/
- Published: 2017-09-18T15:02:17.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T16:26:37.000Z
- Description: Wayne White explores the 1862 battle through a multi-media installation of the first battle of ironclad ships.
- Author: Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (Virginia MOCA)
- Tags: Announcement, Exhibition Announcement, Virginia MOCA, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:30(2016, 2017, part 3)

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2017/09/moca_waynewhite_monitorium_1080x720_hyperallergic_2017.jpg)](http://bit.ly/2vWzHiS?ref=hyperallergic.com)

The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) announces the opening of their Fall/Winter Exhibitions on view September 16, 2017 through February 11, 2018 featuring an exclusive on-site installation; [*Wayne White: MONITORIUM*](http://bit.ly/2vWzHiS?ref=hyperallergic.com).

Artist, designer, author, entertainer and the subject of the 2012 documentary, *Beauty is Embarrassing*, Wayne White explores the 1862 Battle of Hampton Roads through a multi-media installation of the first battle of ironclad ships. Focusing on the intimate, human side of this game-changing moment in US naval history, the Union’s USS *Monitor* will set the stage for White’s dynamic exhibition.

White’s experience as set and character designer for shows like *Pee-Wee’s Playhouse* and music video art direction for *The Smashing Pumpkins* and *Peter Gabriel* will transform MOCA’s TowneBank Galleries into an evocative world of maritime wonder. Monumental-sized puppets, props, dramatic lighting, and sound will carve out White’s unique perspective, featuring individuals who helped shape the *Monitor*’s history.

The Mariners’ Museum and NOAA’s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary have been instrumental partners in facilitating the veracity of White’s vision, providing history, facts, and data (and in one case — sound) about the USS *Monitor*.

Alongside *MONITORIUM* is [*Small Works, Tall Tales*](http://bit.ly/2x2wY9b?ref=hyperallergic.com) featuring small scale sculpture from Virginia artists: Kim Overstreet and Robin Kranitzky, Wade Mickley, Deborah G. Rogers, Robin and Julia Rogers, Tracey St. Peter, John Tobin, and Aggie Zed.

[*Wayne White: MONITORIUM*](http://bit.ly/2vWzHiS?ref=hyperallergic.com)is made possible by support from the members of MOCA’s Chairman’s Circle.

For more information about the exhibitions, visit MOCA’s website at [VirginiaMOCA.org](http://bit.ly/2jfW5g9?ref=hyperallergic.com).

[*Wayne White: MONITORIUM*](http://bit.ly/2vWzHiS?ref=hyperallergic.com) *continues at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (2200 Parks Avenue, Virginia Beach, Virginia) through February 11.*