Artists pay tribute to veterans
Lee Buchanan
editor@thefranklinpress.com
Since 2011, veterans and their families have been immortalized thanks to the talents of local artists, and this year’s round of portraits is now on display.
This year, the Macon County Art Association is honoring nine veterans. The 2019 Veterans Portraits Show will be on exhibit from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Friday, Nov. 1 through Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 11 at the Uptown Gallery located at 30 E. Main St. in Franklin.
“It’s a nice way to connect with what they’ve done and to feel appreciated,” said Karen Smith, chair of the Macon County Art Association’s Veterans Portraits program. “It’s something their families can pass down.”
The portrait presentation ceremony is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11, immediately following the Veterans Day Parade. MCAA president Carol Conti will make opening remarks at 12:30, followed by the portrait presentations by Smith at 12:40. A luncheon is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
“When we do the presentation, some of them can be very touching, guys crying as they tell their stories,” Smith said. “Some vets are missing because they’re no longer alive, so families tell their stories. I like that they get their opportunity to do that. It provides some closure.”
It’s not just the veterans and families who are moved by the portraits and the ceremony.
Creating the portraits can be stressful for the artists as they struggle to make the artwork do justice to the veteran.
“I think the artists feel really good about doing this,” Smith said. “And I think they really connect with that feeling more when they present the portraits. They have the same sort of catharsis that the vets do, because it’s their work.”
Artists can work in any media they like, including pencil, watercolors, pastels and oil.
The Veterans Portrait Project class of 2019:
• Lt. Col. Russell J. Abbott, Army Air Corps, Air Force, Air Force Reserve; artist, Pat Mennenger
• Sgt. Jerry Thomas Vinson, Army; artist, Carol Conti
• Lt. Col. Alan Newton, Army, Army Reserves; artist, Sue Weathers
• Sgt. Maj. Terry Russell, Marine Corps; artist Margie Kellam
• Spc. Wayne Chandler, Army; artist, Jean Blackmer
• SP5 James Carpenter, Army; artist, Mary Bermke
• ETR-2 Thomas C. Smelker; artist, Kathy Ratcliff
• SP5 Augustus Rush McMahon III; artist, Teresa Register
• AC1 Robert Lethbridge, Air Force; artist, Cheryl Binnall
To submit a veteran for next year’s project, email Smith at karen@programservices.org or pick up an application at the Uptown Gallery. Support applications for monetary donations are also available to cover the costs of framing and putting on the ceremony.