Yearlong series to consider costs of America's wars

Spiritual, material costs of America's wars to be series focus 

"Theater of War in a House of Peace," a yearlong series of artistic and cultural events that will consider the costs of America's wars, gets under way Tuesday, Sept. 21, with an exhibition of artworks by Jason Blue Lake Hawk Martinez.

The works, a series of paintings titled "Fourteen Stations of the Crass," and a sculpture called "Kiva," will be exhibited at Wilson Memorial Chapel from Sept. 21 to Oct. 11.   An opening reception is scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, and a roundtable discussion with the artist is planned at 7 p.m. Oct. 11.   All events will be in the chapel.   Admission is free and open to the public. 

Rick Chrisman, director of religious and spiritual life at Skidmore, is organizing the series, which will broadly consider the material and spiritual costs of war and the ethics of the war policy of the United States. His goal is to have events scheduled from orientation to commencement, all considering aspects of war and its costs to people and nations. "We are a nation at war, but the nation has no?and makes no?emotional acknowledgement of this mortal fact.   We are the source of mayhem, murder, chaos, destruction, self-destruction, dislocation, dismemberment?and all of that is 'over there," he said.  

Continued Chrisman, "The idea here is to give ourselves the opportunity to acknowledge the fact of war, inventory the costs of war, and make an observance that is not funereal but inspirational of peace."

To raise awareness of the "Theater of War" program, Chrisman appeared as "Uncle Sam" at the student Club Fair last week.   He distributed cards to students with such conversational cues as "How will you serve? What are your choices?" and "What should we do to 'support our troops'?"   Click here to view video.

The first formal event in the series is the art exhibition by Martinez, an instructor at Albany's Doane Stuart School whose works have been exhibited recently at the Koussevitzky Art Gallery at Berkshire College, Pittsfield, Mass.; and will soon be seen at the Contemporary American Indian Artwork Mesa Contemporary Art Center.   He holds a bachelor's degree from SUNY Purchase and a master's degree from the University at Albany.

Chrisman selected Martinez as the inaugural artist because his work reflects "contemporary spirituality."   He added, "Jason, a Native American of Tiowa descent, attended Catholic schools as a child.   He uses images and elements from both traditions to challenge our spirituality." 

Throughout the year, Chrisman hopes to offer programs featuring lectures, literary events, concerts, and theatrical performances.   He welcomes proposals from academic departments, faculty members, and students who are interested in participating.   Please contact Chrisman at rchrisma@skidmore.edu or extension 8340.