Lost Heroes Art Quilt: Remember Soldiers Lost in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
Colorado Springs, CO, May 11, 2010 --(PR.com)-- The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center will display the Lost Heroes Art Quilt, a tribute to the men and women who have given their lives in service to our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan, beginning on May 18, which is a FAC Public Free Day. There is no admission fee for this exhibition, which runs through May 30.
This dramatic, mixed media fabric artwork was created by artist Julie Feingold. The quilt features 82 heroes who reflect the diversity of America – 50 in the central quilt representing each state in the U.S. and 32 around the border. A photograph and poignant words describing the person’s unique personality, dreams, plans, interests and hopes appear around each hero’s square on the Quilt, permanently memorializing each life.
“The Fine Arts Center is deeply grateful for the opportunity to host this important work of art in connection with our Conflict | Resolution program,” said Sam Gappmayer FAC CEO and President. “We join with many others in honoring the young men and women who have sacrificed so much in service to our country.”
Five soldiers represented have connections to the Pikes Peak Chapter of the American Gold Star Mothers: Kyle Powell represents the state of Colorado Bill Hecker represents the state of Missouri Nick Turcotte, son of Debbie Moore, represents the state of Minnesota Dane Balcon, son of Carla Sizer, is represented on the border of the quilt Blake Harris is represented on the border of the quilt.
Two Air Force Academy graduates (Class of 2001) represented on the quilt: Derek Argel and Jeremy Fresques. The first Navy Seal killed in Iraq was Marc Allen Lee (representing the state of Oregon); his grandparents live in Colorado Springs. Additionally, five Fort Carson soldiers are represented (Alexander Funcheon, Lyle Cambridge, Brian Freeman, Stephen McGowan, and Michael Arciola).
The Lost Heroes Art Quilt was dedicated at the Weekend of Remembrance in Washington D.C. last September and was on display on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol during at the Time of Remembrance Ceremony. It spent its inaugural week at the Arlington National Cemetery Visitors Center; other venues include Women in the Army Museum, National Museum of the Marine Corps, the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, and the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden and arrives at the FAC directly from the Colorado State Capitol.
The mission of the Lost Heroes Art Quilt is to: Honor our fallen heroes, educate the public, remember their sacrifices, open hearts and minds, exhibit across America, and support the families.
Artist Julie Feingold of Boca Raton, Fla., worked with the American Gold Star Mothers organization to seek mothers who might volunteer to allow their son or daughter to be represented on the quilt, one hero representing each state in the United States. The first mother to volunteer from each state was included. Others were added on the border of the quilt; a total of 82 soldiers are represented.
Each square features a childhood photo of the hero. The parents wrote a story about their fallen child and the artist silk screened certain key words from the stories on either side of the square.
The heroes on the quilt come from all ranks and education levels, and from many different cultural backgrounds, but the one theme that comes through when you read their stories, is that they all shared a love of country and were dedicated to serve.
According to the artist, many mothers wrote that their children had always wanted to be in the military. It was their calling from a very young age. Many mothers wrote that their sons played with the GI Joe figures when they were young. For this reason, Feingold spent two years collecting vintage GI Joe jackets from eBay. She then took the childhood pictures that had been provided, sewed them into the GI Joe jacket, and appliqued them on to the quilt square. If a Marine, the hero is in a camouflage jacket, Army heroes are in green, Navy in sailor tops, and Air Force in tan.
There are two Native American’s represented on the quilt, two females, three African Americans and several with Hispanic backgrounds.
Quote from Paul Petty, Father of U.S. Army Captain Christopher P. Petty, represented on the quilt:
“I believe that this work of art goes beyond individual interests. It represents a nation honoring men and women who willingly made the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us. The quilt displays these heroes in images from their youth. Exuberant, full of life, they leap from the quilt and say to us, "I was young and full of dreams but I found a calling greater than myself and was willing to serve regardless of the personal risk.”"
“I viewed this quilt when it was displayed at Arlington National Cemetery, where my son Chris is buried. After taking in the quilt, I watched for a few minutes to see its impact on visitors. It was remarkable. At first there was curiosity, reading the explanation, then intense scrutiny of the images of young kids who are now gone. The lost heroes.”
For more information on the Lost Heroes Art Quilt, visit www.lostheroesartquilt.org
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This dramatic, mixed media fabric artwork was created by artist Julie Feingold. The quilt features 82 heroes who reflect the diversity of America – 50 in the central quilt representing each state in the U.S. and 32 around the border. A photograph and poignant words describing the person’s unique personality, dreams, plans, interests and hopes appear around each hero’s square on the Quilt, permanently memorializing each life.
“The Fine Arts Center is deeply grateful for the opportunity to host this important work of art in connection with our Conflict | Resolution program,” said Sam Gappmayer FAC CEO and President. “We join with many others in honoring the young men and women who have sacrificed so much in service to our country.”
Five soldiers represented have connections to the Pikes Peak Chapter of the American Gold Star Mothers: Kyle Powell represents the state of Colorado Bill Hecker represents the state of Missouri Nick Turcotte, son of Debbie Moore, represents the state of Minnesota Dane Balcon, son of Carla Sizer, is represented on the border of the quilt Blake Harris is represented on the border of the quilt.
Two Air Force Academy graduates (Class of 2001) represented on the quilt: Derek Argel and Jeremy Fresques. The first Navy Seal killed in Iraq was Marc Allen Lee (representing the state of Oregon); his grandparents live in Colorado Springs. Additionally, five Fort Carson soldiers are represented (Alexander Funcheon, Lyle Cambridge, Brian Freeman, Stephen McGowan, and Michael Arciola).
The Lost Heroes Art Quilt was dedicated at the Weekend of Remembrance in Washington D.C. last September and was on display on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol during at the Time of Remembrance Ceremony. It spent its inaugural week at the Arlington National Cemetery Visitors Center; other venues include Women in the Army Museum, National Museum of the Marine Corps, the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, and the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden and arrives at the FAC directly from the Colorado State Capitol.
The mission of the Lost Heroes Art Quilt is to: Honor our fallen heroes, educate the public, remember their sacrifices, open hearts and minds, exhibit across America, and support the families.
Artist Julie Feingold of Boca Raton, Fla., worked with the American Gold Star Mothers organization to seek mothers who might volunteer to allow their son or daughter to be represented on the quilt, one hero representing each state in the United States. The first mother to volunteer from each state was included. Others were added on the border of the quilt; a total of 82 soldiers are represented.
Each square features a childhood photo of the hero. The parents wrote a story about their fallen child and the artist silk screened certain key words from the stories on either side of the square.
The heroes on the quilt come from all ranks and education levels, and from many different cultural backgrounds, but the one theme that comes through when you read their stories, is that they all shared a love of country and were dedicated to serve.
According to the artist, many mothers wrote that their children had always wanted to be in the military. It was their calling from a very young age. Many mothers wrote that their sons played with the GI Joe figures when they were young. For this reason, Feingold spent two years collecting vintage GI Joe jackets from eBay. She then took the childhood pictures that had been provided, sewed them into the GI Joe jacket, and appliqued them on to the quilt square. If a Marine, the hero is in a camouflage jacket, Army heroes are in green, Navy in sailor tops, and Air Force in tan.
There are two Native American’s represented on the quilt, two females, three African Americans and several with Hispanic backgrounds.
Quote from Paul Petty, Father of U.S. Army Captain Christopher P. Petty, represented on the quilt:
“I believe that this work of art goes beyond individual interests. It represents a nation honoring men and women who willingly made the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us. The quilt displays these heroes in images from their youth. Exuberant, full of life, they leap from the quilt and say to us, "I was young and full of dreams but I found a calling greater than myself and was willing to serve regardless of the personal risk.”"
“I viewed this quilt when it was displayed at Arlington National Cemetery, where my son Chris is buried. After taking in the quilt, I watched for a few minutes to see its impact on visitors. It was remarkable. At first there was curiosity, reading the explanation, then intense scrutiny of the images of young kids who are now gone. The lost heroes.”
For more information on the Lost Heroes Art Quilt, visit www.lostheroesartquilt.org
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Contact
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
Charlie Snyder
719.634.5316
www.csfineartscenter.org
www.lostheroesartquilt.org
Charlie Snyder
719.634.5316
www.csfineartscenter.org
www.lostheroesartquilt.org
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