Blue Devils Alpine Gothic

by Revere La Noue

Title

Blue Devils Alpine Gothic

Artist

Revere La Noue

Medium

Painting - Mixed Media

Description

This is a replica print of the 300 sq ft. installation in the Murray Building on the campus of Duke University.
The original Blue Devils were an elite French military unit that fought in the Black Forest and Alps in WWI. Notorious for their resourceful fighting style, the Chasseurs Alpins were dubbed "Blau Tuefel" by their German enemies, Diables Bleus in French or Blue Devils. Their innovative tactics, unrelenting courage, and distinctive attire became legendary in France and ultimately in the United States. In efforts to help Uncle Sam sell war bonds, veteran Blue Devils crossed the Atlantic. Vast crowds cheered as the French Soldiers paraded through New York, Chicago, and the White House. The major newspapers recounted their war stories bullet by bullet. Duke students were looking for a mascot with dark blue color as stories of the Chasseurs Alpins made their way from the Alps to Durham, North Carolina. Although it was not immediately accepted, Duke University officially embraced the Blue Devil nickname in mid 1920's.
As a filmmaker and artist Revere La Noue builds bridges through his storytelling. The BLUE DEVIL, ALPINE GOTHIC project is full of bridges: art to sports, 20th century to 21st century, military tradition to collegiate tradition, folklore to history, France to the United States. In 2009, when he relocated to Durham from New York, La Noue first had the idea of trying to link the Duke University tradition with the Chasseurs Alpins in a meaningful way and it has been a textured and exciting project from the outset.

Uploaded

January 26th, 2015

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