Veterans Exhibition

In Partnership with the Tampa – Hillsborough County Public Library, the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts has created an exhibition of photographs by veterans to showcase their unique perspective on returning to civilian life after many years in the Armed Forces. For some of these veterans, this photographic project and exhibit will serve as a healing process in part for severe PTSD and combat-related injuries.

The exhibition supports the Big Read project and the anniversary of the book The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien; it will be displayed at the SouthShore Public Library in Ruskin beginning of Mid-March.

This exhibit is sponsored by: Pierre and Cathy, Co-Owner of UPAG Gallery

Bob Terri, United States Army

“In A Time of X”
Bob Terri, United States Army

During his 7 years service in the Army, Bob was involved in the momentous cold war of Operation Danube, 1968 and the Warsaw Pact Invasion.

From my window I wondered what would be next. I was not able to imagine the soldier I was to become. The man I was to become.

The Hitchhiker on a never-ending journey. Standing on the piled high yet to be written stories laying foundation to my vantage point of forward observer.

“Conversations With Myself”
Bob Terri, United States Army

 During his 7 years service in the Army, Bob was involved in the momentous cold war of Operation Danube, 1968 and the Warsaw Pact Invasion.

I have immersed myself within myself. During times of being alone, back then as a soldier in the field or today, widowed, the conversations in my head about me, my life, sustain me looking introspectively but never losing sight of crossing that bridge from my childhood. The bridge is seared in my mind and all of the configurations of me traverse together the ever-running river.

 

 

“Song of The Lyre”
Bob Terri, United States Army

 During his 7 years service in the Army, Bob was involved in the momentous cold war of Operation Danube, 1968 and the Warsaw Pact Invasion.

I heard the lyre sing out to me and I hear it today. Sustaining me when the ocean was split in two flooding a cracked floor. As Orpheus, the music gave me air to breath like floating vents of musical bars. I sit straining to jump, to fly free, breakaway, for what is always next. The song was and remains my bridge.

“Madonna of The Rocks”
Bob Terri, United States Army

 During his 7 years service in the Army, Bob was involved in the momentous cold war of Operation Danube, 1968 and the Warsaw Pact Invasion.

She floats forever along the path of a very private garden, my life ever verdant. She came to me through the turmoil, sustains by her messages, her songs in perpetuity. As the sea rushes over the paths and stones in my life my siren floats gently as a content goddess.

Craig Maxwell, United States Air Force

“Solace 1”
Craig Maxwell, United States Air Force

 Craig served with the Air Force for 24 years, as a combat engineer, often putting him in the most active combat zones. Craig suffers from traumatic brain injuries resulting in extreme and frequent migraines, and severe PTSD.

Craig’s images are a reflection of his attempt to find solace on the bodies of water frequented by sport fishermen, usually at dawn. His photographs represent a personal healing process as he finds momentary peace on the water.

 

“Solace 2”
Craig Maxwell, United States Air Force

 Craig served with the Air Force for 24 years, as a combat engineer, often putting him in the most active combat zones. Craig suffers from traumatic brain injuries resulting in extreme and frequent migraines, and severe PTSD.

Craig’s images are a reflection of his attempt to find solace on the bodies of water frequented by sport fishermen, usually at dawn. His photographs represent a personal healing process as he finds momentary peace on the water.

 

 

“Solace 3”
Craig Maxwell, United States Air Force

 Craig served with the Air Force for 24 years, as a combat engineer, often putting him in the most active combat zones. Craig suffers from traumatic brain injuries resulting in extreme and frequent migraines, and severe PTSD.

Craig’s images are a reflection of his attempt to find solace on the bodies of water frequented by sport fishermen, usually at dawn. His photographs represent a personal healing process as he finds momentary peace on the water.

“Solace 4”
Craig Maxwell, United States Air Force

 Craig served with the Air Force for 24 years, as a combat engineer, often putting him in the most active combat zones. Craig suffers from traumatic brain injuries resulting in extreme
and frequent migraines, and severe PTSD.

Craig’s images are a reflection of his attempt to find solace on the bodies of water frequented by sport fishermen, usually at dawn. His photographs represent a personal healing process as he finds momentary peace on the water.

“Solace 5”
Craig Maxwell, United States Air Force

 Craig served with the Air Force for 24 years, as a combat engineer, often putting him in the most active combat zones. Craig suffers from traumatic brain injuries resulting in extreme and frequent migraines, and severe PTSD.

Craig’s images are a reflection of his attempt to find solace on the bodies of water frequented by sport fishermen, usually at dawn. His photographs represent a personal healing process as he finds momentary peace on the water.

“Solace 6”
Craig Maxwell, United States Air Force

 Craig served with the Air Force for 24 years, as a combat engineer, often putting him in the most active combat zones. Craig suffers from traumatic brain injuries resulting in extreme and frequent migraines, and severe PTSD.

Craig’s images are a reflection of his attempt to find solace on the bodies of water frequented by sport fishermen, usually at dawn. His photographs represent a personal healing process as he finds momentary peace on the water.

Frank Novatsky, United States Coast Guard

Rebirth # 1”
Frank Novatsky, United States Coast Guard

 During his 28 years career in the Coast Guards Frank developed a keen sense of environmental issues as well as an admiration for the complex beauty of the landscape as he experienced during a 7 year posting in Kodiak, Alaska.

 Frank’s images are a reflection of the quiet and eerie conditions found in burned-out forests. They are a positive message of regrowth and renewal, the hope and peace all humans seek.

 

“Rebirth # 2”
Frank Novatsky, United States Coast Guard

 During his 28 years career in the Coast Guards Frank developed a keen sense of environmental issues as well as an admiration for the complex beauty of the landscape as he experienced during a 7 year posting in Kodiak, Alaska.

Frank’s images are a reflection of the quiet and eerie conditions found in burned-out forests. They are a positive message of regrowth and renewal, the hope and peace all humans seek.

“Rebirth # 3”
Frank Novatsky, United States Coast Guard

 

During his 28 years career in the Coast Guards Frank developed a keen sense of environmental issues as well as an admiration for the complex beauty of the landscape as he experienced during a 7 year posting in Kodiak, Alaska.

 Frank’s images are a reflection of the quiet and eerie conditions found in burned out forests. They are a positive message of regrowth and renewal, the hope and peace all humans seek.

Pierre Dutertre, French Air Force

“Reoccurrence one”
Pierre Dutertre, French Air Force

Pierre was drafted in his early twenties and became a carrier-based combat pilot, spending over 2 years flying missions over Africa.

 During his 104th combat mission, Pierre encountered strong headwinds on his way back to the carrier, late in the evening, and had to eject when his Mirage engine flamed out 60 miles from the ship. He was rescued the following morning after a long night in cold water. His wingman, Francois, who also ejected close by was never found. To this day Pierre has a reoccurring nightmare of that night, the violent ejection, parachute drop and very cold water, all under a brilliant night sky.

“Reoccurrence two”
Pierre Dutertre, French Air Force

 Pierre was drafted in his early twenties and became a carrier based combat pilot, spending over 2 years flying missions over Africa.

 During his 104th combat mission Pierre encountered strong head winds on his way back to the carrier, late in the evening, and had to eject when his Mirage engine flamed out 60 miles from the ship. He was rescued the following morning after a long night in cold water. His wingman, Francois, who also ejected close by was never found. To this day Pierre has a reoccurring nightmare of that night, the violent ejection, parachute drop and very cold water, all under a brilliant night sky

 

“Reoccurrence three”
Pierre Dutertre, French Air Force

 Pierre was drafted in his early twenties and became a carrier based combat pilot, spending over 2 years flying missions over Africa.

During his 104th combat mission Pierre encountered strong head winds on his way back to the carrier, late in the evening, and had to eject when his Mirage engine flamed out 60 miles from the ship. He was rescued the following morning after a long night in cold water. His wingman, Francois, who also ejected close by was never found. To this day Pierre has a reoccurring nightmare of that night, the violent ejection, parachute drop and very cold water, all under a brilliant night skr.

Robert Holzworth, United States Marine Corps

 

Solitude 1”
Robert Holzworth, United States Marine Corps

 During his 22 years career in the Corps Robert made a clear commitment to help other veterans, something he continues to do so to this day with fundraisers.

Robert found that after retiring from the Corps he missed the camaraderie of his fellow Marines, the loss of his military family. The juxtaposition of the group images from his Corps days with solitary vistas is a clear reflection of that sense of loss that affects many veterans.

“Solitude 2”
Robert Holzworth, United States Marine Corp

During his 22 years career in the Corps Robert made a clear commitment to help other veterans, something he continues to do so to this day with fundraisers.

 Robert found that after retiring from the Corps he missed the camaraderie of his fellow Marines, the loss of his military family. The juxtaposition of the group images from his Corps days with solitary vistas is a clear reflection of that sense of loss that affects many veterans.

“Solitude 3”
Robert Holzworth, United States Marine Corp

During his 22 years  career in the Corps Robert made a clear commitment to help other veterans, something he continues to do so to this day with fundraisers.

Robert found that after retiring from the Corps he missed the camaraderie of his fellow Marines, the loss of his military family. The juxtaposition of the group images from his Corps days with solitary vistas is a clear reflection of that sense of loss that affects many veterans.