Posted on 02/07/2005 8:12:08 AM PST by owls_man
ROCKLAND - Free speech clashed with free expression on a downtown street corner Saturday as artists opposed to war protested the showing of combat paintings of Marine Sgt. Michael Fay at the Farnsworth Art Museum. Sgt. Fay stood ramrod straight when confronted by the small group of protesters upset with the Farnsworth for exhibiting his paintings of combat forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The afternoon sun reflected off the combat ribbons pinned to his green uniform, and the red chevrons on his sleeves glinted in the finish of his spit-shined shoes as Fay listened to his challengers.
Fay told the group he recognized their right to voice their opinion but reminded them that he had a right to express himself as well.
"I think it's great that we can have a passionate debate," Fay told the protesters. "I am not a spokesman for the war. But am I proud to be a Marine? You bet."
About a half-dozen artists carried signs and stood vigil outside the Farnsworth as the show "Fire and Ice: Marine Corps Combat Art from Afghanistan and Iraq" was previewed for museum members. Fay's paintings show soldiers carrying out their daily duties while serving on hostile ground.
Fay's paintings and drawings do not depict war, but there is no doubt as to their nature. They are set in a combat zone and include images of tanks, bombs, planes, ambulances and rifle-carrying soldiers.
The protesters objected to the show's content and what they claimed was the museum's "implicit support of war." They said a more balanced show would include images of civilian deaths and mass destruction. To represent one facet of military life in combat zones without placing it in the context of the true costs of war displayed a lack of sensitivity, they said.
(Excerpt) Read more at bangornews.com ...
There's a dress code? Now they tell me.
From the article
""The fact that he would come not dressed as an artist, but as a Marine is an affront," said Natasha Mayers of Whitefield. "I'm for real expression that's not paid for. This guy is paid for, he's been a Marine all his life, and this is a military point of view."
Yep, all his life. How did Ms. Mayers know? Sgt. Fay completed Parris Island at the age of 13 weeks. His boot camp experience went relatively well. "Fay had a hard time keeping up on some of the long runs." recalled one fellow recruit. "We had to literally carry him across the finish line sometimes. But we had to do that with a bunch of the guys, and at least Fay had the deceny to weigh only eight pounds."
Fay did graduate successfully from Parris Island. To no one's surprise, he was immediately assigned to the infantry.
Seriously, ever notice how liberals like to paint the military as being from another species? It's very condescending and elitist.
I'm buying!
Guess these "so-called" protestors have never heard of "combat art", it has long been a proud tradition of the United States military. SGT Fay is a Marine combat artist not just some yahoo with a pencil or brush as some of these artist wannabes appear to be.
Huh. I wonder what an artist dresses like?
Am I sick of this affectation where people interview themselves?
You bet.
I'm for real expression that's not paid for. This guy is paid....... Good. Y'all give me back the tax money that was stolen from me for the National Endowment of the Arts.
No. you couldn't wear anything BUT a uniform until 30 years ago or so.
.
"The fact that he would come not dressed as an artist, but as a Marine is an affront," said Natasha Mayers of Whitefield. "I'm for real expression that's not paid for. This guy is paid for, he's been a Marine all his life, and this is a military point of view. The day-to-day part of war, which we can't imagine, is what we need to see. We need to see images that tell us the truth."
-- From the Olympian perch of “Community Artist.”
Guess she means "not paid for with government grants issued by artsy-loony-lib committees to credentialed socialist-anarchist-anti-American 'artists' . . .?"
(I MUST read down thread before I post. I MUST read down thread before I post. I MUST read . . . )
New euphemism?
I don't like hard-edged color art - prefer freehand water color . . .
LOL! One of those precocious Marine brats, I guess.
If you knew, you'd be revolted.
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