The American Soldier: A Photographic Tribute to Soldiers and Marines
March 6, 2009 – May 30, 2009
Hyle Family Gallery and Marion Pelton Gallery
“The American Soldier – A Photographic Tribute” is the first exhibition of its kind ever mounted. The idea for the exhibition dates to 1995, when curator Cyma Rubin was inspired by a photograph of a World War II G.I. that appeared on the cover of the New York Times Magazine. It was not until 2004, that she began collecting the photographs that appear in the exhibition. In examining more than 4,000 photographs covering nearly 150 years of American military history, Rubin and her staff decided to emphasize the real lives of American soldiers through the nine major wars America has fought since 1861. They decided to choose photographs – many of them not widely seen before – that would tell the story of American soldiers’ camaraderie, courage, humor, and sacrifice.
The 116 enlarged photographs in the exhibition cover the United States at war from the Civil War, Spanish American War, Boxer Rebellion, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Afghanistan, and the first Iraq War. The exhibition captures the danger and frustration, humor and camaraderie, death and victory that the American soldier has encountered through the years.
Both commemorative and educational, the exhibition provides visitors of all ages a vivid sense of the contributions of today’s soldiers and their predecessors. The exhibition likewise celebrates the work of the war photographers – some famous, some anonymous – who have also risked danger at the front lines, and without whose work we could not experience these moments of history.
Cyma Rubin is the curator and producer of “The American Soldier.” Rubin is also the curator and producer of the exhibition, “Capture the Moment: Pulitzer Prize Photographs” which the Beach Museum of Art hosted in 2003.
The exhibition is sponsored by: EADS North America, the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. Business of Entertainment Inc. an innovative company: producers of live theatre, films, documentaries and photography exhibitions. John B. Stetson Company©, STETSON An American Spirit©
Related Events
Books at the Beach
March 26, 2009, 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
In Arturo Pérez-Reverte’s novel The Painter of Battles, main character Andrés Falques is an award-winning war photographer who tries to purge his memories of war by painting a battle scene mural. Bring the mural to life by discussing the art referenced in the book – from Greek vases to Goya to Diego Rivera. Bring a brown bag lunch to the 11:30 session. Dessert and coffee will be served at both sessions. (Organized in conjunction with “The American Soldier.”)
Women and War
April 30 2009, 7 p.m.
Pippa White of One’s Company! Productions will give a special performance in conjunction withThe American Soldier. Characters include Rosie the Riveter, Florence Nightingale, and a contemporary woman from Germany who deactivates land mines around the world. Funded in part by a grant from the Mid-America Arts Alliance.
Family Open House for “The American Soldier”
May 3, 2009, 2-4 p.m.
Bring the whole family for an afternoon of games, crafts and activities celebrating the American soldier.