December 2009 Archives

RoG Vol 4: Healing through Music

Published on December 20, 2009 by Ron Kelsey

The holiday seasons are one of the most difficult times for deployed soldiers and their families.  This week, as I listened to the song Before the Tree Comes Down, I recalled how hard it was to spend time away from my family during Christmas. This song by Christa Wells was written for the military to help bring about healing during such times. As Soldiers received donated copies of her CD this week in Germany, they were encouraged through their time of loss and separation.

This process of healing through music was also experienced at the Reflections of Generosity opening at Fort Drum on 19 August 09. Christa Wells, Christy Tennant, and Kyla Kelsey performed music to an audience of soldiers, artists, and their families. Christa Wells dedicated one of her songs to the 10th Mountain DIV of Fort Drum, which has the history of being one of the most deployed divisions in the United States. As she played On the Mountain, the following words captivated the audience:

    I’ve been climbing my whole life
    and I’m only at the bottom of the mountain,
    at the bottom of the mountain
    Rising up from my feet in the daylight
    rising up into the clouds and out of my sight
    is the height of that mountain

    Well my hands cannot reach it and my mind can’t comprehend it
    but my soul is gonna get there one day
    No, my hands cannot reach it and my mind can’t comprehend it
    but my soul is gonna get there one day...

The emotional turmoil of these ongoing sacrifices during the holidays are experienced by us all. Christy Tennant paid tribute to a soldier that influenced her life when she sang “Song for a Soldier I Met on a Plane” at Fort Drum:

    I saw a man dressed in desert brown
    His name on his chest and a baby in his arms
    His bride was crying as she kissed him goodbye
    I prayed for them as as I boarded my flight

    Turned out that we were seated side by side
    Tried to make small talk as the plane took flight
    I wanted to tell him how grateful I was
    For the work that he was doing on behalf of all of us

    And, "I am praying for you, And I am pulling for you
    As I remember every word you said
    And I am cheering for you, And I am hoping for you
    To finish strong, my friend...

As my family endures the challenges of ongoing deployments, we use art and song to facilitate healing within our home. After I returned from Iraq, Kyla wrote the song "Love, Life," to describe the emotional challenges of being separated from me and raising three kids on her own:

    Entering into the dark unknowing, throwing
    All that we have to the dark
    With our love lights glowing.

    Love Life, how can we last for so
    Long, Love, many have passed before
    We, Have, so much to give to this world.

    Everyone knows who we are 'cause you're going
    All of us trying so hard to be strong.

    Love Life, how can we last for so
    Long, Love, many have passed before
    We, Have, so much to give to this world.

    Watching the look in his eyes, it's breaking
    Giving him their hugs goodbye is so hard...

Hearing these songs I cherish the traveling art exhibit Reflections of Generosity. The creators represent the same wave of influence that brings about harmony toward restoration and peace. Our combined thoughts and efforts form a landscape of art with the capacity to make history.  The stanzas of art represent the uniform music that is formed after all the artisans have played their part. Surrounding each artist is the audience of the world. Through harmony, change is orchestrated that will reverberate toward unity of purpose for all of mankind.

Yours, toward restoration and peace,

Ron Kelsey, Germany
Nonprofit Artist, Military Liaison for the Arts
ron.v.kelsey (at) us.army.mil

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RoG Vol 3: Honoring Soldiers

Published on December 15, 2009 by Ron Kelsey

Fellow Artists and Soldiers,

Thirteen civilians and soldiers died honorably at Fort Hood on 5 November 2009. Looking at their lives, I see a history of generosity—actions taken to defend nations and voluntary service for freedom around the world. Today I want to pay homage to their legacy by sharing four works from Reflections of Generosity.

Fort Jackson is not known for being the center of the art world. Most know it as where  men and women joining the military go through basic training. In the above photo entitled “Welcome to the Army,” Neil Jones captures the initial experience among Fort Jackson soldiers, their first step in upholding military standards. Neil (former U.S. Army SSG) explains this work further:

'Welcome to the Army' shows U.S Army recruits at basic training only moments after their very first haircuts. By showing the backs of the Soldiers' heads, revealing the immediate results of this ritualized event, the work addresses the notion of identity (the removal of the last vestige of civilian life initiates the recruit into the world of the Soldier), the power of the Army’s indoctrination process ("breaking you down to build you back up"), and finally (and perhaps contradictorily) the uniqueness and humanity of those who serve, challenging the perception that Soldiers are mindless automatons.

Prior to the Reflection of Generosity exhibit at Fort Drum, I watched Jay Walker install his painting “Fatigue." As he unveiled his work, an image of a uniform floating in space, memories of the many soldiers who paid the ultimate price for freedom flooded my mind, and I experienced the void and grief that remains after such honorary sacrifices.

After recruits receive their first haircut and uniform, they are taught honor through the Soldiers Creed. Sandra Ceas captures the essence of this creed in her sound wave digital print “Soldier's Creed” (below). Her work is a tribute to the values of a soldier, who’s daily commitment to defending freedom and democracy enables progress toward restoration and peace.


Makoto Fujimura mentions in Refractions the benefit and value of such freedom:

We have a very unique patronage system that encourages democratic patronage of the arts, such as the National Endowment for the Arts . . . connected with the Shakespeare in American Communities program, the Jazz Masters program, and the touring of Martha Graham dance troops . . . These distinctively American forms of art, I would argue, are the greatest fruits of our democracy. And we have every reason to celebrate and broadcast with pride what freedom has brought us (Makoto Fujimura, Refractions: A Journey of Faith, Art, and Culture, page 111).  

When I returned home from Iraq in May of 2009, experiencing the honor and value of freedom I and my fellow comrades had fought for was so poignant that I was inspired to create the Homecoming IR Flag lithograph edition. And as I presented these prints to multiple Soldiers returning from Iraq, I again faced the emotional turmoil of the battlefield and of reintegration at home. But I am here, and I long to honor the fallen, whose sacrifices prevent them from experiencing the homecoming they deserve.

Yours, toward restoration and peace,

Ron Kelsey, Germany
Nonprofit Artist, Military Liaison for the Arts
ron.v.kelsey (at) us.army.mil

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Reflections of Generosity Volume 2: Remembering Heroes

Published on December 01, 2009 by Ron Kelsey

(Pamela Moore photo info: “Moment In Time” 4 Printed Fabric 4x6 ft each TriBeCa Temporary Gallery NYC)
 

Walking slowly, the whirling blur of a distant movie came into view
Impending Danger threatened my Soul
Inexplicably, Reason left me. I could not See
Floating Illusions surrounded me
Fear scaled to a higher Octave
Time has Stopped
All that Was
was not.

(Pamela Moore, 2001)

 
Fellow Artists and Soldiers

The above statement and artwork was written and created by Pamela Moore after witnessing the tragedy's of 9-11. Reading her statement, I see a connection to the tragedies of Fort Hood on 5 November 2009. In both circumstances, the perpetrators claimed to find honor in such vengeance. Beyond the grief of such claims and loss of heroes, I recall the hope from a single candle that burned at TriBeCa Temporary Exhibit, April 2003, which reflected upon heroic sacrifice.

Makoto Fujimura remembered heroes during this exhibit saying:

The rescuers, along with other heroes of 9-11, redefined life’s true expression of beauty, which was forgotten by the ‘convoluted theory’ of recent times. The firefighter’s ‘art’ was their sacrifice. Their lives were offered up in response to the terrorist’s ‘art’ of vengeance in their ‘last extremity.’ Compared to the vengeance, those who sacrificed their own lives so that others could find life was the true mentanoia, turning 180 degrees to face death head-on rather than fleeing. Through their sacrificial love, we can begin to know and experience true beauty. (Makoto Fujimura, Refractions: A Journey of Faith, Art, and Culture, page 55)

In the same way, the Soldiers and Police Officers that stood up in defense of Fort Hood faced death head-on. Their art was their sacrifice.

Yours Toward Restoration and Peace,

Ron Kelsey, Germany
Nonprofit Artist, Military Liaison for the Arts
ron.v.kelsey (at) us.army.mil

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