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| Film stills courtesy of Jack Ofield, Director, Different Sons: Vietnam Remembered Operation Rapid American Withdrawal (Operation RAW) Exhibition 1970-2005September 2 - 25, 2005 Opening Reception: Ice Box Project Space, Crane Arts Hours of Operation:
See the list of associated events below. Philadelphia artist and activist Jane Irish has organized a group exhibition over 50 artists' strong in reaction to Operation Rapid American Withdrawal, a peace march led by Vietnam veterans that took place on Labor Day weekend, 1970. The original march, conducted by over 100 "long-haired" veterans began in Morristown , New Jersey, tramping through small towns where in the 1770's George Washington's rag-tag troops once trudged. Throughout this "wonderful example of true guerilla theatre / performance art", writes Irish, the antiwar veterans reenacted actions that they had originally performed in Vietnam against civilians, including harassment and interrogation. Arriving in Valley Forge Military Park, over 200 strong the veterans performed a final sweep mission culminating in a peace rally where they "broke arms" with 2000 supporters looking on. Speeches were offered by soldiers, sympathizers, politicians, and celebrities, including John Kerry, Jane Fonda, and Donald Sutherland. Irish writes, "The Vietnam vets saw themselves as standing up, in a nonviolent way, to an arrogant, imperious government prosecuting a disastrous war far from its shores." With an eye on historical parallels, this exhibition has the war in Iraq in mind as well. Included in Irish's call to artists was this comment about art and commitment:
Operation RAW , the resulting multimedia art exhibition will include works by Ron Abram, Amy Adams, Terry Adkins, Sam Belkowitz, Shannon Bowser, Brian Brotman, Gerard Brown , Charles Burns, Mark Campbell, Steve Donegan, Jessica Doyle, Joy Feasley, Susan Fenton, Matthew Fisher, Sherman Fleming, Don Fox, Will Gabaldon, Sarah Gamble, Arthur Gonzales, Patrick Grugan, Susan Hagen, Carolyn Healy, Mary Henderson, M. Ho, Diane Hricko, Richard Hricko, Alex Hughes, Cathleen Hughes, Jane Irish, Susana Jacobson, Jeanne Jaffe, Christianne Kapps, Nick Kripal, Tristin Lowe, Gabriel Martinez, Sarah McEneaney, Kait Midgett, Susan Moore, Thomas Morrissey, Joshua Mosley, Jack Ofield, Sharyn O'Mara, Michael O'Reilly, Peter Parker, John Phillips, Tom Porett, Cynthia Porter, Andrew Prayzner, Janet Richard, Sarah Roche, James Rosenthal, Ann Seidman, Mark Shetabi, Larry Spaid, Paul Swenbeck, Ira Upin, Jeremy Vaughn, Tony Velez, Bill Walton, Natalie Weiters, and Sarah Zwerling . Also included in the exhibition is the documentary film made of the March entitled Different Sons: Vietnam Remembered , Directed by participating artist Jack Ofield , and produced by Robert J. Sann and Arthur Littman. The film will be shown as a projection loop throughout the duration of the exhibition.
The following events will take place at the Ice Box in conjunction with the exhibition. All events are free to the public, and handicap accessible. September 3, 2 pm September 3, 4 pm Film Screening of Johnny Got His Gun Exhibition Tours will also be provided. For additional information about this project visit www.operationraw.com or contact Jane Irish directly at jirishart@aol.com. |
