The exhibition opened last Thursday, and coming to Storefront felt different than on other occasions. The familiar space was filled with soldiers in their festive uniforms. Many of them got a special leave from the military, James tells me later.
"9/11 did not end on 9/11. For American soldiers, 9/11 has been a decade-long day," says James Panero, noted art critic, Managing Editor of The New Criterion, and curator of "The Joe Bonham Project," currently on display at Storefront. "As of this summer, over 44,000 troops have been wounded in conflicts following the attacks of September 11. Over 1,300 of them have undergone partial or full amputations. 'The Joe Bonham Project' represents the efforts of wartime illustrators to document their rehabilitation."
Thank you Franklin Einspruch for this honor and recognizing the sacrifices of our wounded warriors.
9/11 did not end on 9/11. For American soldiers, 9/11 has been a decade-long day. As of this summer, over 44,000 troops have been wounded in conflicts following the attacks of September 11. Over 1,300 of them have undergone partial or full amputations.
“The Joe Bonham Project,” represents the efforts of wartime illustrators to document their rehabilitation. Formed in early 2011 by Michael D. Fay, the Project takes its name from the central character in Johnny Got His Gun, Dalton Trumbo’s 1938 novel of a World War I soldier unable to communicate with the outside world due to the extent of his wounds.
Through portraiture, artists from both military and civilian life now work to ensure that today’s soldiers do not become tomorrow’s Joe Bonhams. I am pleased to connect these artists with New York's most vital artistic neighborhood and proud to present their work, for the first time, as our city marks the tenth anniversary of 9/11. -James Panero, curator The Joe Bonham Project at Storefront Gallery, Brooklyn September 1-September 18, 2011
Here are pictures from the opening night of The Joe Bonham Project--Thursday, September 1, 2011, at Storefront Gallery in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Photos by Jason Andrew and James Panero
Thank you artists Rob Bates, Mike Fay, Jeff Fisher, Roman Genn, Bill Harris, Richard Johnson, Amber Martin, and Victor Juhasz for allowing me to introduce Bushwick to your art honoring our wounded warriors.
Thank you Bushwick and everyone else for coming out to support the Project.
And thank you Debbie Brown and Jason Andrew for giving me the opportunity to present this exhibition at Storefront Gallery.
Check out Mike Corrado's amazing music video for his hit song "Still in the Fight," depicting the rehabilitation of remarkable soldiers like Kyle Carpenter and Aaron Mankin, and Joe Bonham artists creating work that now appears in The Project.
Follow the family blog of Sargent Jason Ross and learn about how this specialist from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit in Afghanistan is recovering after losing his legs to an IED.
Here is artist Victor Juhasz telling the stories of Sgt. Joseph Dietzel, Sgt. Joshua Elliott, Sgt. Blumenberg, and Sgt. Joshua Elliott.