War Up Close exhibit will show Shreveport the war in Ukraine in a virtual way

Henrietta Wildsmith, Shreveport Times
·2 min read
Photos from past presentations of The War Up Close VR exhibit.
Photos from past presentations of The War Up Close VR exhibit.

People will have the chance to see the war in Ukraine in a unique way when the VR museum “War Up Close” exhibit stops at two locations in Shreveport this week. Both Centenary and LSUS will house this exhibit that is free to the public.

Attendants will have the opportunity to use a virtual reality headset to view 360° panoramic photographs, drone footage, and 3D models depicting the destruction in cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv.

"Our virtual reality event offered a sobering glimpse into the devastating impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, allowing participants to witness the harrowing reality of the bombings through immersive (VR) technology" said Karina Mandell, Chairwoman of the Baltimore. "By shedding light on these atrocities, we aim to foster empathy, understanding, and support for those affected by this ongoing crisis."

Photojournalist Mykola Omelchenko will give an in-person presentation on this project, as well as a first-hand account of the war and its impact on the people in the war zone. Omelchenko co-created the WAR UP CLOSE project in 2022, leveraging 360-degree technology to show the world the scale. Mykola is the inaugural certified Google photographer in Ukraine with a prolific portfolio of over 4,000 international virtual tour projects.

“The War Up Close VR exhibit is a sobering exhibit that brings the stark realities of conflict to the forefront, urging reflection, empathy, and a renewed commitment to the Ukrainian people,” said Sig Libowitz, director of the MA in Film and Media program, Johns Hopkins University.

Photos from past presentations of The War Up Close VR exhibit.
Photos from past presentations of The War Up Close VR exhibit.

WAR UP CLOSE will be open as follows:

• Monday, March 18, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Noel Memorial Library at the Louisiana State

University in Shreveport, One University Place, Shreveport, LA 71115

• Tuesday, March 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Moore Student Union Building at the

Centenary College of Louisiana, 2911 Centenary Blvd., Shreveport, LA 71104

The exhibitions can be attended at any time during the open hours. It takes 15–25 minutes to view.

For more information about WAR UP CLOSE, visit htps://war.city

Photos from past presentations of The War Up Close VR exhibit.
Photos from past presentations of The War Up Close VR exhibit.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: War Up Close exhibit will show Shreveport the war in Ukraine in a virtual way