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 ...
Who ever thought that the military establishment would end up being the radicals offending the sensibilities of the staus quo Che Guevara T-shirt crowd!
The world is backwards.
Time to support the ARTS everyone, let's all consider a purchase of artwork from Sgt. Fay's show, here's a link to the gallery info page on his exhibition...
http://www.farnsworthmuseum.org/exhibitions/new_ex.html
Liberals are idiots.
The show was organized by Farnsworth curator of exhibitions Helen Ashton Fisher and Charles G. Grow, curator of the Marine Corps Combat Art Collection. It was made possible by the support of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.
Yep, Marine Corps organized & paid for it, so what did they EXPECT, paintings of pussy-willows?
Just when I think liberals cannot POSSIBLY get any stupider, they prove me wrong!
Heh, the poster above said it best...
"Sweeeeeeet. Artist intolerant of art."
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Exposes them for what they really stand for!
The whole time he was thinking, "I could kick your collective asses from here to the moon with missing toes and without breathing heavy. But because you are fellow Americans, I choose not to."
ping list request....
I am a successful university-degreed musician who also happens to be in Navy intel. I actually know the difference between Baroque and Roccoco and hold a security clearance. This comes as a real shock to some as it is believed that only those with no other options join the military.
When I was teaching jr. high at one point in my life journey, a couple of my students saw me at the mall one evening and with a truly shocked expression asked me "What are YOU doing here?" "Shopping" was my reply. They just couldn't picture their teacher out of the classroom or doing anything other than teaching, just like those with underdeveloped minds cannot picture a soldier out of his uniform or doing anything other than killing.
-ccm
It isn't stupidity. It's panic.
Searching was complicated because there is another contemporary artist with the same name. Sgt. Fay's paintings are in the Combat Museum and one hangs in theHeritage Foundation offices.
Wrong. I used to wear my dress blues to weddings, and I could wear the uniform (if I wanted)on leave. IF I did wear it, I had to behave accordingly. The key is whether you are on active duty, call up, etc.
I am tempted to take up painting just so I can paint nice pics of hairy smelly peaceniks getting their heads shot off and faces kicked in.
While I was waiting, a guy I knew came up to me. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm waiting for the reading and writing a poem."
"But you're a statistics major."
"Yeah. So?"
"You're a Republican."
"Yeah. So?"
The other guys paused, blinked, then said, "You're right. I gotta stop stereotyping like that."
Hey, at least that guy got it.
You did well. also see #19
Okay, my friend, I think you're mistaken.
I have the Army regs. in front of me (AR 670-1), not USMC rules. I think it's a safe bet the rules are similar. Army regs. let a former soldier wear the uniform on certain occasions if they are a retiree or a combat veteran (and this Marine appears to fall under both rules). Both rules allow for the uniform to be worn for patriotic holidays, and also for "occasions of ceremony." There are other rules as well, but this isn't the place to get too technical. I think a gallery opening obviously counts as an "occasion of ceremony."
"Except for government grants to artists who can't live off their work because nobody wants to buy it; *that* kind of payment is okay."
WOW! He's very talented! I'd like to see more.
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