MFA Exhibit at the University of Hartford

On July 20, 2012, after two years, I received a Masters of Fine Art in Illustration from the University of Hartford.  My thesis project is a historical novella titled The Boy Who Drew Soldiers.  Set primarily in the British sector of the Western Front in WWI France, it's a coming-of-age story tailored for the middle-school reader.  Students in the 8-12 year old age group are cognitively working their way through a stage pioneering French educational psychologist Jean Piaget called "concrete operations."  During this developmental period we start to develop empathy.  The underlying theme of The Boy Who Drew Soldiers, is empathy.

Here are pictures of my MFA show at the University of Hartford's Joseloff Gallery.

National Endowment for the Arts Magazine

Hey everyone, it's been awhile.  For the past 2 years, in addition to The Joe Bonham Project, I've been heavily invested in finishing a MFA in Illustration at the University of Hartford and teaching as an adjunct professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University's Painting and Printmaking Department.  On July 20th I earned my MFA.  I'll post my thesis in sections over the next coming weeks.

In other news, I am featured in this quarter's newly released issue of the National Endowment for the Arts Magazine.

Seeing is Believing

War through the Eyes of a Combat Artist

By Christy Crytzer Pierce

The Joe Bonham Project in the New York Times

Today New York Times arts writer Carol Kino published an article with a slideshow and short video presentation about The Joe Bonham Project.

One of my fellow artists in The Joe Bonham Project, Rob Bates, has curated a show for us at the University of North Carolina's Charlotte campus.  The show will officially open on May 22 from 4:30 to 6 PM at UNCC's Student Union Gallery. You can read a nice article in the Charlotte Examiner penned by Catherine Lash.

Rob Bates

                                                                        Victor Juhasz

                                                                         Jeffrey Fisher

                                               

                                                                       Michael D. Fay

Last night I was featured in a CBS Evening News piece.

Joe Bonham Project Exhibition

Announcing "The Joe Bonham Project," An Exhibition Curated by James Panero

The Joe Bonham Project
an exhibition curated by James Panero

featuring portraits of injured US service personnel by members of the International Society of War Artists and the Society of Illustrators

SEPTEMBER 1-18, 2011

Opening Reception:

Thursday, September 1, 6-9PM

______________________
BUSHWICK, BROOKLYN – Storefront (16 Wilson Avenue, Brooklyn) is pleased to announce the final installment of its ambitious summer exhibition schedule featuring THE JOE BONHAM PROJECT, an exhibition organized by guest curator James Panero. Post 9/11, the exhibition brings together the work of wartime illustrators featuring portraits of injured US service personnel by members of the International Society of War Artists and the Society of Illustrators. These works are documentative, accurate, and gripping, yet offer a sensitivity and awareness to the causalities and sacrifice of war.

Artists featured in Panero’s selection include: Lance Corporal Robert Bates, USMC; Peter Buotte; CWO2 Michael D. Fay, USMC (retired); Jeffrey Fisher; Roman Genn; Bill Harris; Richard Johnson; and Victor Juhasz.

The show opens with a reception, Thursday, September 1, 6-9PM and will be on view through September 18. For more information, contact Jason Andrew at 646-361-8512 or visit www.storefrontbk.com

THE JOE BONHAM PROJECT represents the efforts of wartime illustrators to document the struggles of U.S. service personnel undergoing rehabilitation after traumatic front-line injury. Formed in early 2011 by Michael D. Fay, the Project takes its name from the central character in Johnny Got His Gun, Dalton Trumbo’s 1938 novel of a World War I soldier unable to communicate with the outside world due to the extent of his wounds. Scheduled to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the attacks of September 11, the exhibition will mark the silent sacrifices of American soldiers in the ensuing decade-long conflict.

James Panero is Managing Editor and art critic at The New Criterion and writes about art and culture for several publications. This is his first curated exhibition.

__________

STOREFRONT was started by Jason Andrew and Deborah Brown. It is Bushwick’s leading gallery presenting both emerging young talent and established historically significant artists. Its exhibition program has been the featured in ARTNET MAGAZINE, THE CITYist, TIME OUT NEW YORK, NEW YORK MAGAZINE, NEW YORK PRESS, NEW YORK POST, THE NEW CRITERION, L MAGAZINE, THE BROOKLYN RAIL, THE NEW YORK TIMES, WNYC, and written about locally including BUSHWICKBK, GREENPOINT GAZETTE, WILLIAMSBURG GREENPOINT NEWS + ARTS.

HOURS: Weekends 1:00-6:00PM or by appointment 646-361-8512 .

DIRECTIONS: L train to Brooklyn. Morgan Avenue stop. Walk four blocks on Morgan to Flushing Avenue. Cross Flushing Avenue to Wilson Avenue. The gallery is located between Noll and George Streets.

A SELECTION OF WORK SCHEDULED TO APPEAR IN THE EXHIBITION:

Lance Cpl. Tyler Huffman by Richard Johnson

Sgt Jason Ross by Victor Juhasz

Sgt Than Naign by Robert Bates

Cpl Matthew Bowman by Robert Bates

Lance Cpl. Tyler Huffman by Michael D. Fay

Still in the Fight - Trailer (Part 2)

Still in the Fight - Trailer (part 1)

Still in the Fight

For the past month I've been very busy with a project called Still in the Fight. SITF is a musical off shoot of my series of three articles this past March in the New York Times and the Joe Bonham Project. The music director for Still in the Fight is Mike Corrado, and the co-artists are Victor Juhasz and Robert Bates. I collaborated with Max Uriarte, creator of the totally viral Terminal Lance phenomena on the official logo, which you see above.

Please go by our SITF Facebook page, and Indie-Go-Go fund raising site.

The Joe Bonham Project and Still in the Fight

Over the past couple weeks I've been very focused on two related projects, the Joe Bonham Project and Still in the Fight. The former is a partnership between the International Society of War Artists and the Society of Illustrators. The latter is a partnership between the Joe Bonham Project and a group of Nashville musicians led by Mike Corrado. Together, we are raising money for a Nashville recording session and a video to go with the song, Still in the Fight, being penned by Mike. Mike has already written several outstanding songs about the experiences of our warriors in the Global War on Terrorism: On My Watch Tonight, Stand and Lucky One.

In order to finance Still in the Fight we've set up a site where folks can donate. We've got a bunch of great perks for different levels of giving. The donation site is http://www.indiegogo.com/Still-in-the-Fight

This past week I was out in Colorado Springs covering the second annual Warrior Games. So far, as a war artist, I've embedded with and covered Marines in combat, in surgical trauma wards, and rehabilitation centers. Going to the Warrior Games brings my art full circle, covering our fully recovered warriors, some still on active duty and others medically retired, competing at a world-class Paralympic level at the US Olympic Committee Training Center in Colorado Springs. Stand by for art and stories of these exceptional Americans.