Sgt. Battles in his studio
Marines and paintbrushes may not go together in the collective mind exactly like, say, milk and cookies. But an extremely interesting article in the NY Times today proves that, since WWII, the military has recognized that art can play a very important role in the chronicling of our history. And particularly in the Marines, it does so on a far smaller scale than the typical portrait of a general, or even the photography that has become so much a part of our civilian link to wars. These sketches and paintings cover all aspects of military life, from raids to training to putting on a pair of boots.
John T. Dyer, watercolor of scene in Vietnam
The article describes a dwindling but active unit of the Marines that is dedicated to recording the fleeting impressions, the intense emotions and the mundane moments that make up active duty. You can read the whole article here, which includes a slideshow of the work of some of the artists most recently involved, as well as some works from the archives of previous wars.
I found the article thought provoking, especially as it raises the question of what will become of the program once our involvement – and tax dollar investment – in Iraq and Afghanistan is decreased. The artists/officers are concerned about the program atrophying; they are down to only one actively deployed artist, and the office it runs out of has mentioned that now is hardly a time to “think about expanding.”
In peacetime, the need for recording scenes of training and images of conflict are, clearly, lessened. But with a staff and facilities already in place, can’t this unit remain active and broaden their mission beyond simply recording? From the description, the unit seems to be a little-known blip on the radar even within the Marines. It could do so much more. My hope is that some of these open-minded men, who recognize the value of using art to find the humanity in some truly inhuman situations, might use a little imagination.
Michael Fay, "Raid Outside of Yusifiyah"
One officer mentions the shock of seeing sketches of recently fallen comrades, and the surprising solace it brought. He was moved to know that their families may see these men through a fellow soldier’s eyes. I can imagine using this as a resource and a therapy for soldiers who have been shattered by their experiences. What if returning Marines were encouraged to seek images they recognize in these archives, whether literally or just in spirit? Even more, what if they were given the opportunity to create artwork themselves? Art therapy proves a powerful tool for expression in the hands of those too traumatized to express themselves in words. We have seen an astonishing number of vets come out of our current conflicts with trauma, and a lack of outlets to deal with it. Painting certainly would not appeal to every soldier, but it could help set many on the road back to themselves.
Whether or not this is feasible within the actual ranks, I don’t know. I certainly don’t claim to know about the structure of the Marines, or their rehabilitation programs (read: please, no one think this is a political post). My thoughts turned to putting the skills of these talented, intelligent, hard-working artists to continued use, and to thinking beyond the archive shelves. Mostly, I was just heartened to see a real appreciation for art come from an unexpected quarter, and to know that in an age of ever-more digitalized records, the importance of the human experience is still respected.
The artists Michael Fay and Kristopher Battles both have blogs about their lives as Marine artists, and you can visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia to see the archives of their work and the officers who came before them.
Anyway, food for thought.
-Meredith
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