NR 13.327 - November 7, 2013
Ottawa – Today, the experiences of a dozen Canadian artists were discussed at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa during the biennial Canadian Forces Artists Program exhibit, titled Artists at Work: Art From The Canadian Forces Artists Program.
“The featured artists display a wealth of patriotism and passion,” said the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of National Defence. “Much like the uniformed men and women they captured so eloquently, the artists also displayed a great amount of talent.”
While the event featured the stories of 12 Canadian artists, five were in attendance in the Barney Danson Theatre to discuss these works in a panel: writer/painter Scott Waters, playwright Talia Pura, videographer/photographer Charles Stankievech, sculptor/photographer Maskull Lasserre, and videographer/photographer Nichola Feldman-Kiss. Major-General Paul Wynnyk, Deputy Commander of the Canadian Army, provided the opening remarks of the event.
“The members of the Canadian Armed Forces continue to be called upon to perform demanding tasks under challenging and difficult conditions, be it during domestic or international operations,” said Major-General Wynnyk. “The Canadian Forces Artists program is essential, as it documents, both at home and abroad, what often goes unseen by most Canadians.”
The event was the result of collaboration between the Department of National Defence (DND), the Canadian War Museum and Legion Magazine; it showcases the contributions Canadian artists have made to the history of the CAF. The locations these artists have travelled to can be described as both dangerous and remote, ranging from Afghanistan to Canadian Forces Station Alert in the High Arctic.
The Canadian Forces Artists Program provides a range of unique opportunities to support the independent and creative work of professional Canadian artists who wish to make a contribution to Canadian military heritage. The program is open to all forms of art and all artists, from painters and sculptors to writers and poets. It is the aim of the Canadian Forces Artists Program to enable artists from across Canada, working in a variety of media, to capture the daily operations, the people, and the spirit of the CAF, and in so doing, give the Canadian public a lasting record of our military men and women and their work.
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