'For Gallantry in Action'
2010 acrylic on canvas 24x20"
I was invited to create a piece for the upcoming “Heroes” group art exhibit at The Foundry. Women’s issues are always important to me, so it was not hard to decide on a piece about women serving in the military. As proceeds from artwork sold in this exhibit will go to the Wounded Heroes Fund, I chose also to focus on the women medics serving. Online research led me to a Washington Post article about a young army medic named Monica Brown. It’s not a recent story, but it got my attention:
“Army Spc. Monica Brown, a medic from 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, is the second woman since World War II to earn a Silver Star award for gallantry in combat.”
From there I found a story and video about Spc. Brown … and then another … and another. Her story struck a chord with me; and while I hadn’t originally intended to create a piece based on a single individual, that’s what I wound up doing. I created a portrait of Spc. Brown in my ‘bobble-head’ style, as Todd calls it. I hope she doesn’t mind. I have to give props to vets Matt Ruth and David Reichelt, who helped me figure out some of the finer details concerning army uniform insignias, and the M-16 rifle.
As a military brat, raising money for the Wounded Heroes Fund is a cause I’m happy to get behind, and I hope you’ll all be able to join me for the Opening of our “Heroes” exhibit at The Foundry on Thursday, November 4, from five to seven p.m. Entry is only $5, and well worth it. Veterans admitted free with I.D.
“Army Spc. Monica Brown, a medic from 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, is the second woman since World War II to earn a Silver Star award for gallantry in combat.”
From there I found a story and video about Spc. Brown … and then another … and another. Her story struck a chord with me; and while I hadn’t originally intended to create a piece based on a single individual, that’s what I wound up doing. I created a portrait of Spc. Brown in my ‘bobble-head’ style, as Todd calls it. I hope she doesn’t mind. I have to give props to vets Matt Ruth and David Reichelt, who helped me figure out some of the finer details concerning army uniform insignias, and the M-16 rifle.
As a military brat, raising money for the Wounded Heroes Fund is a cause I’m happy to get behind, and I hope you’ll all be able to join me for the Opening of our “Heroes” exhibit at The Foundry on Thursday, November 4, from five to seven p.m. Entry is only $5, and well worth it. Veterans admitted free with I.D.
UPDATE! 4-17.17: 'For Gallantry in Action' has been adopted! Thank you, Lucy Cruz, for supporting the arts! And thank you, Solmayra Ocampo, for your service! Here's to strong women everywhere: May we know them; may we be them; may we raise them.
More photos of this and other works can be viewed in the gallery!
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