Painting the Heart and Spirit of America: National Exhibition Honors Veterans Through Art
WE THE PEOPLE: Portraits of Veterans in America, is Mary Whyte’s series of military veterans reintegrating back into society and the workforce. The exhibit consists of fifty large-scale portraits of modern-day veterans of all ages and all walks of life. The collection debuts in Charleston SC on October 25th and will then go on a 3-4-year national museum tour. A 501c3 foundation has been set up to bring all the veteran-models to Charleston for a grand portrait unveiling and to find a permanent home for the entire collection after the national tour.‘We the People’ was created as a way to honor our country’s veterans through art. The aim is to serve veterans through initiatives in art for healing, as well as by fostering a greater appreciation of our military’s service with the public and in schools. Art is the means we are using to connect with, inspire, and show appreciation to our service men and women. A 30-minute documentary is currently in production.
Painting the Heart and Spirit of America: National Exhibition Honors Veterans Through Art More than seven years ago watercolor artist, Mary Whyte set out on a mission to paint the face of America. What began an exercise to create 50 portraits turned into an all-consuming mission to uphold and honor the hidden heroes of our country.
WE THE PEOPLE: Portraits of Veterans in America, is Mary Whyte’s series of military veterans reintegrating back into society and the workforce. The exhibit consists of fifty large-scale portraits of modern-day veterans of all ages and all walks of life. The people she painted, each a military veteran represent all that is good and right about our nation. The taxi driver, schoolteacher, dairy farmer, rancher and astronaut among others, are a collective symbol of the pursuit of peace and the freedom in which this country was founded.
Whether they live in a house on the hill or under a tarp in the woods, all of these men and women once signed a blank check on the value of their life and handed it to the American people. The paintings took many years to complete and there were times Whyte didn’t know if she would have the funds to continue as there were no backers for the project. The future of the paintings seemed uncertain. Not to be deterred by sound judgment or common sense, Mary just kept going.“What I discovered in my travels across America was an astonishingly beautiful country as well as an extraordinary group of men and women willing to do whatever it would take to preserve its abundance of blessings. I asked every veteran that I met what they thought was the best part of being in the military and unequivocally almost everyone answered that serving our country made them a better person.” The veterans selected from each of the 50 states and all branches of the military. Most served unheralded though diligently and then return to live quietly with their families in the land they defended. Each represents the diversity, challenges and realities of living in America today. The ultimate hope is that everyone who sees these will find some part of themselves in the paintings.
Whyte believes the ongoing service and sacrifice of our military remind us that the fundamental rights of liberty set forth by our forefathers is as imperative today as ever.WE THE PEOPLE’s aim is to serve veterans through initiatives in art for healing, as well as by fostering a greater appreciation of our military’s service with the public and in schools. The art is meant to connect with, inspire, and show appreciation to our service men and women.
Whyte adds, “Each generation must carry the torch of freedom and justice before passing it on to the next. Into our children’s hands and hearts, we place an inextinguishable bright light of hope. For this privilege we remain ever grateful to our veterans.” The national exhibition will launch October 25, 2019 at the City Gallery in Charleston, South Carolina and run until December 22. The collection will then travel on a three to four- year national museum tour. The opening weekend (October 25-27) will include two premiere concerts with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, gallery tours, brunch for 400 people aboard the USS Yorktown and other events honoring the featured veterans who will be special guests. —-The Patriot Art Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) organization, is dedicated to honoring veterans who have served our country, celebrate their return to civilian life and assist them in the re-entry process.
Utilizing visual arts as a medium, the organization is creating a better world for our veterans and the public through initiatives in art, history, education, leadership and imagination, and WE THE PEOPLE marks the organization’s first initiative. The Patriot Art Foundation supporters are comprised of veterans, military leaders, business leaders, educators and artists, and partner organizations include The Citadel, The University of South Carolina Press and The Charleston Symphony. More information can be found at www.patriotartfoundation.org