When veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan return home after their service they are rarely the same. There are numerous ways of coping with the experience, some of which are truly unique. The Combat Paper Project is one such effort. Founded in 2007 by a paper and book artist, and a soldier-turned-artist, the Combat Paper Project engages veterans in cathartic paper-making, writing and printmaking workshops to help them reconcile and share their combat experiences through the creative process.
Friends School of Baltimore will present the exhibit “Reflections on Combat: The Work of the Combat Paper Project,” in the Forbush Building’s ground floor gallery, from January 9 to February 17, 2012. The School will host an opening for the public on Thursday, January 12, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The exhibit’s Friends School tour is made possible by The Jay Katz ‘45 Art Fund.
From uniform to pulp, battlefield to workshop, soldier to artist
The paper used in the artwork is created from the soldiers’ own combat uniforms, which are torn and mashed into a pulp that is then formed into canvas-like sheets. Veterans use the transformative process of papermaking to reclaim their uniform as art and begin to embrace their experiences in the military.
According to the Combat Paper Project website, through ongoing participation in the papermaking process, combat papermakers are attempting to progress from creating works specific to their military experiences to expressing a broader vision on militarism and society. The work reflects both the anger of the past and hope for the future. Through this collaboration between civilians and veterans, a much-needed conversation is generated regarding our responsibilities to the returned veteran and an understanding of the dehumanizing effects of warfare.
Reflections On Combat has appeared in such venues as the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., the Bavarian State Library, Munich, Germany; and the Fleet Library, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI.
Individuals, schools and outside groups who wish to view the exhibit during its five-week installation may do so by appointment. Contact Jaime Moore at jmoore@friendsbalt.org or by phone at 410.649.3252 to schedule. For more information about the Combat Paper Project, click here.
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