by Veterans, Service Members & Civilian Artists
Of Eden: A Visual Dialogue of War by Veterans, Service Members & Civilian Artists
JPACC Foundation is pleased to present “Of Eden: A Visual Dialogue of War” Art Exhibition at the International House Hotel, 221 Camp St, New Orleans, LA, from September 15 through October 15, 2016.
This exhibition seeks to create space and opportunity for a visual dialogue, tackling one of the most significant aspects of human behavior – conflict and organized aggression, in the context of the “War on Terror” specifically in Iraq and Afghanistan. The very nature of war is traumatic and while the premise of our exhibition is that “in war, there are no unwounded soldiers”, we believe in the power of art, literature and culture to tell — and heal — the stories of war. The exhibition includes the work of veteran, service member and civilian artists that utilize photography, drawing, painting, print work, installation and the written word to share unique and controversial perspectives on military service and war.
The centerpiece of the exhibition is “A Battle Lost” by Jenn Hassin, an U.S. Air Force veteran and nationally recognized artist. “A Battle Lost” consists of 8,030 rolled pieces of combat paper, paper made from military uniforms that have been shredded and hand pressed into paper, representing each veteran who committed suicide in one year. The rolls are abstractually arranged to suggest a topographical map, with gold filling in and highlighting the cracks and damage, yet showing that it is now stronger than ever, as well as more valuable and precious.
Also featured at the exhibition is work from the Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative, a decentralized network of artists committed to social, environmental, and political engagement. With members working from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, Justseeds operates both as a unified collaboration of similarly minded printmakers and as a loose collection of creative individuals with unique viewpoints and working methods. Artists being featured include Aaron Hughes, Jesse Purcell, Drew Cameron, Fernando Martí, and Nicolas Lampert.?The exhibition is open to the public, and tickets to the Opening Night Private Reception on September 15th, 2016 are available for purchase starting at $100. Many of the works of art will be available for purchase, with proceeds from tickets and artwork going to benefit JPACC Foundation veterans’ initiatives, Dialogues on the Experience of War and the Of Eden Documentary Project.
The Of Eden Exhibition is hosted in part with JPACC Foundation’s partner, StoryCorps, a non-profit organization whose mission is to record, preserve, and share the stories of Americans from all backgrounds and beliefs. StoryCorps will be in New Orleans, September 14-17, 2016, conducting interviews with local veterans, service members, and their families. JPACC Foundation is a non-profit public health organization, located in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles through prevention, education and community collaboration.
JPACC Foundation is a non-profit public health organization dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles through prevention, education, and community collaboration.