. . . and a trio of documentaries looks at art in the lives of veterans

Join us for the video screening of “Art in the Face of War” at the Providence Art Club, on Thursday, May 5th, 6 – 9 PM.  The second of three videos associated with ALRI’s Support and Defend exhibit, eight World War II artists/veterans recount their service experience and their use of art for journalism, as a tactical tool and to preserve their own sanity. Covering all theaters of operation and all branches of the U.S. military, including the once top-secret Army division known as The Deception Corps, their powerful imagery will enlighten, challenge, even amuse, showing that war is hell but that creativity can exist in the face of destruction.  Following the video, a distinguished panel including the video’s director David E. Baugnon, curator Peter Harrington of Brown University’s Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection, military art curator and historian Tara Leigh Tappert of The Arts & The Military, and the co-author and director of “The Ghost Army of World War II” Rick Beyer, will discuss the issues the film raises in the context of World War II and current times.

Army combat veteran Wes Moore explores five soldiers’ personal attempts to reintegrate into society. Inspired by the life and death of Moore’s friend and fellow officer, Brian Collins, Moore takes an honest look at both the struggles and the successes of  “coming back.” Read more about the series at pbs.org/coming-back-with-wes-moore/home.

Following the screening, artist Jodi Manca and her husband, Andy, an Iraqi Army veteran and serving member of the R.I. Air National Guard, will join Army Afghanistan veteran artist Edward Santos, and the filmmaker and Vietnam veteran son-and-father team of Soren and Peter Sorensen to discuss the video and the issues it raises.  As additional material for discussion, a short edited segment of Soren Sorensen’s award winning and soon-to-be-released film, “My Father’s Vietnam”, will be screened.