Combat Artists in World War II
I’ve been keeping track of some random observations the last few days. First, though, I’m heading out of town for four days. Yep, in the middle of The Never Ending Move, we have to head south to the San Diego area. The Oceanside Museum of Art (scroll down to Painting World War II on the link) has an exhibit opening tomorrow about WWII, painted by California-style watercolorists. My dad was a war artist and we loaned one of his paintings to the museum for the exhibit. I’ll put in a very bad photo (Know why it’s bad? Because right before we moved I ran around the house shooting snapshots of all our art – I wasn’t trying to take good photos, just get a record.) and then explain it.
My dad, Edward Reep, painted this in 1944 on the field in Anzio, Italy, on the Mussolini Canal. Soldiers had come out of their foxholes at the canal surrounding the beach, which was guarded by two men with 50-caliber machine guns at night. Six or seven yards from the foxholes was a mine field with a path through it separating the Americans from the Germans. These men knew the way through the minefield, and on this particular night, as they returned from patrol in the early hours of the morning, they were leading a cow. Dad was up early, away from his foxhole to paint, and he asked the men what they were doing with the cow. They replied they were going to have steak for dinner. A few hours later the cow, having escaped her fate, came running wildly back into the mine field seeking the way home. My dad described her running with udders swinging to and fro. Not knowing anything about mines, the cow blew herself up, and shrapnel (as well as pieces of the cow) just missed Dad. He narrowly escaped death that day and he said he shook for a long time after that. He collected some of the shrapnel, which shaved branches right off the bushes next to him, and still has the pieces.
Anyone who is interested should purchase or rent the DVD They Drew Fire. This documentary about WWII combat artists was produced by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Brian Lanker, and it is amazing. Basically, Lanker realized that most of the WWII artists were dying (my dad is almost 92) and if anyone wanted to learn from them, they’d better do it now. If you go to the PBS site I linked, you can read more about it, see photos, read quotes (my dad is quoted on the first page), and probably purchase the DVD. My dad is one of the artists featured in the documentary.
Correction
In the post on William’s visit, I got the order wrong. I had us on the wine patio at my daughter’s house in the morning. Not so – it was in the late afternoon and we were drinking wine. What we did in the morning was have coffee with Chris McKee. She’s Mike Murer’s mom, and Mike is my student who died recently of a heroin overdose. Mike was a year ahead of William, but they both participated on my Headliners team (current events competition). I think Chris and William enjoyed talking to each other. Any connection is a piece of Mike, who has left immeasurable sadness and spaces that can’t be filled behind.
Random thoughts
Talk about going from the sublime to the profound to the mundane. From World War II combat artists to death to silly random thoughts. But we have them.
My friend Wendy came by a couple of mornings ago to see how the house was developing. I realized that I was wearing old jeans that I refused to give up even though they were several sizes too big and full of holes. The term “bag lady” came to mind. After Wendy left, the jeans went in the trash. Enough is enough. I kept the shirt though – the under $5 shirt I bought at Walmart maybe 10 years ago? It just does not wear out.
I went to Target to find little gifts to take to San Diego. We’re staying with my son-in-law’s sister, and she has three young children. I bought some little beach bags, shovels, towels, got home and realized I had two pinks and a blue. Each of my three daughters has two girls and a boy. But Leanne has two boys and a girl. Back to Target for exchange. Imagine – not everyone has two girls and a boy.
The cats are playing so much more in this house. They like it! All of the old toys have been unearthed and they bat those little balls with bells inside all over the place. Lily has lost her collar again, however. I’m not replacing it this time. Tiger has the same collar she started with; Lily has lost at least five.
Things are going up on the walls at home – finally! My bedroom has reached a satisfactory state of clutter and I feel at home. Pictures in a couple of weeks.
Tags: combat artists, Creative Every Day, Oceanside Museum of Art, random thoughts, They Drew Fire, World War II artists
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