BEHIND THE UNIFORM

An exhibition by U.S. Veterans,
Service Members,
Family and Caregivers

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BEHIND THE UNIFORM

Uniforms have unique stories embedded in them from the experiences of those who wear or have worn them. This exhibition honors those who make or have made the choice to serve and wear this Nation’s uniform. The exhibition features the artwork of over 100 artists. Among them are those who served, are serving, or will serve our Nation, and their families, care providers, and those who support them. The artworks represent and overlap three categories: those who are practicing artists, an evolving and thriving community of local and national artists, and those who use art as their therapeutic process. The exhibition intentionally presents the artists on equal footing, making no distinction between the artists’ levels of training or experience, presenting a flip side to the complex hierarchy that military uniforms express.

As you view the exhibition, think of the common, one-way, five-word verbal salute, “Thank you for your Service.” These artworks convey the experiences and cost of service to the United States. We invite you to lean into the artists’ self-expression and personal stories and go beyond Behind the Uniform to remind, remember, and never forget that there is much more to be told.

WHEN
April 4 to May 23, 2025
Monday through Friday
9am to 5:30pm
WHERE
DC Commission
on the Arts and Humanities Gallery
200 I (Eye) Street SE, Washington, DC
Commission on the Arts and Humanities LogoNational Veterans Art Museum Logo8th and I Young Marines Logo

EVENTS

OPENING RECEPTION

April 10, 2025

Doors open at 6pm

(Mobility Accessibility at 5pm)

MEDIA DAY

April 9, 2025

From 1pm to 4pm

COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

May 17, 2025

From 1pm to 4pm

CLOSING RECEPTION

May 21, 2025

From 6pm to 8pm

(Mobility Accessibility at 5pm)

Exhibition Opens on April 4.

Artists on Display

Detail of Fallen Soldiers by Alicia Dietz.
Alicia Dietz
Fallen Soldiers.

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Detail of Art Saves Life; Words and Other Life Saving Devices by Anne Barlieb.
Anne Barlieb
Art Saves Life; Words
and Other Life Saving Devices.

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Detail of More Than Meets the Eye by Anne Warner.
Anne Warner
More Than Meets the Eye.

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Detail of Where Have All The Flowers Gone, Gone to Graveyards Everyone by April Goodwin Gill,
April Goodwin Gill
Where Have All The Flowers Gone, Gone to Graveyards, Everyone.

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Detail of Two Ceramic Canisters by Barbara Wilson.
Barbara Wilson
Two Ceramic Canisters.

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Detail of All Hands on Deck by Beth Johnston.
Beth Johnston
All Hands on Deck.

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Detail of Canal Drawbridge at Dusk by Peter Damon.
C.J. Davis
The War Is Over,
The Battle is Not.

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Detail of The Military's Shame by Catherine Rodriguez.
Catherine Rodriguez
The Military's Shame.

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Detail of Tribute to Family Veterans by Cedric Baker.
Cedric Baker
Tribute to Family Veterans.

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Detail of "Don't Flush when Train is in the Station" by Chris Stevenson.
Chris Stevenson
Don't Flush when Train is in
the Station.

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Detail of Catching the Light by Christopher Frost.
Christopher Frost
Catching the Light.

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Detail of Built on Tobacco and Blood by David Horan.
David Horan
Built on Tobacco and Blood.

My art attempts to portray the American ideal that so many have sacrificed to create and desire to protect.

Detail of Dorie Miller, US Navy. A Day of Infamy, Jan 6 2021 by Dr Charles Smith.
Doctor Charles Smith
Dorie Miller, U.S. Navy:
A Day of Infamy, Jan. 6, 2021.

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Detail of Until Tomorrow by Donald Mong.
Donald Mong
Until Tomorrow.

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Detail of A Cup by Ehren Tool.
Ehren Tool
A Cup.

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Detail of Missing Still by Jaqueline Dublin.
Jaqueline Dublin
Missing Still.

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Detail of Soldier's Cross by Jeffrey Stenbon.
Jeffrey Stenbom
Soldier's Cross.

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Detail of No Greater Love (or World War II Chaplains) by Jason Lawson.
Jason Lawson
No Greater Love
(or World War II Chaplains).

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

Detail of Uniform is a Suit that Protects by Jeremiah Foxwell.
Jeremiah Foxwell
Uniform is a Suit that Protects.

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Detail of Ladies in Waiting I. II. III. by Jessica Putnam-Phillips.
Jessica Putnam-Phillips
Ladies in Waiting I. II. III.

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Detail of Buddha by Jim Long.
Jim Long
Buddha.

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Detail of Behind the Uniform are US by Kasse Andrews Weller.
Kasse Andrews-Weller
Behind the Uniform are US.

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Detail of They Also Served by Kenneth Peyko.
Kenneth Peyko
They Also Served.

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Detail of Pinned by Leigh Lafosse.
Leigh Lafosse
Pinned.

Pinned on … pinned in … pinned down … pinned up.
One female soldier through the layered lens of uniformed camouflage.

www.rainbowridgestudio.com

Detail of "#888 Sparky" by Leonard Hall.
Leonard Hall
#888 Sparky.

US Navy Veteran

Detail of Reflections and TC by Lisa Munson.
Lisa Munson
Reflections and T.C.

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Detail of At the Heart of the Matter by Maria Frescas.
Maria Frescas
At the Heart of the Matter.

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Detail of Line-Handlers by Mark Oldland.
Mark Oldland
Line Handlers.

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Detail of Symmetry by Mark Carson.
Mark Carson
Symmetry.

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Detail of James Meredith by Michael Greene.
Michael Greene
James Meredith.

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Detail of I used to be by Moira McGuire.
Moira McGuire
I Used to Be.

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Detail of Dazed and Confused by Nan Raphael.
Nan Raphael
Dazed and Confused.

www.nanraphael.com

Nan Raphael - SGM ret. Piccolo Soloist US Army Field Band, Swimmer, Chocoholic, Nat/Commanders Fan.

Detail of Silence is Complacency by Nicolette Rubin.
Nicolette Rubin
Silence is Complacency.

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Detail of Army of One by Omar Columbus.
Omar Columbus
Army of One.

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Detail of Suicide Prevention Dog by Patrick McCarthy.
Patrick McCarthy
Suicide Prevention Dog.

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Detail of "Bailey and Me, Always by My Side" by Patrick Ward.
Patrick Ward
Bailey and Me,
Always by My Side.

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Detail of Anywhere but Down by Paul Happel.
Paul Happel
Anywhere but Down.

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Detail of Canal Drawbridge at Dusk by Peter Damon.
Peter Damon
Canal Drawbridge at Dusk.

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Detail by Price of Freedom by Phillip Milio.
Phillip Milio
Price of Freedom.

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Detail of Tower Guard by Rocio Villanueva.
Rocio Villanueva
Tower Guard.

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Detail of Triple Shot by Ron Erickson.
Ron Erickson
Triple Shot.

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Detail of Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by Shokoufeh Shadabi.
Shokoufeh Shadabi
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

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Detail of "Tent City" by Skip Rohde.
Skip Rohde
Tent City.

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Work of Art. Author: Syahidah Osman. Title: My House is Here. My Heart is There.
Syahidah Osman
My House is Here.
My Heart is There.

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Detail of Still Loyal by Tim Crisman.
Tim Crisman
Still Loyal.

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Detail of School Circle by Victor de la Flor.
Victor de la Flor
School Circle.

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Detail of American Cemetery, Normandy, France by Wally Shaw.
Wally Shaw
American Cemetery,
Normandy, France.

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Detail of Barney Ross by Walt Nygard.
Walt Nygard
Barney Ross.

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Detail of Tigris River, 2004 by Wayne David Hubbard.
Wayne David Hubbard
Tigris River, 2004.

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The National Veterans Art Museum lends a selection of works from its permanent collection for this special collaborative exhibition.
“Military history is human history,” says Executive Director for the NVAM and former Marine Corps sergeant, Giselle Futrell, “the human experience can get lost in the outcomes of war. Exhibitions like these shine a light on the importance of seeing the human behind the mission and coming to terms with the fact that the stories of our military-affiliated community are our shared history. This is our shared humanity.”
For more information visit

Detail of Portrait of a Soldier after War.by Cao Ba Minh.
Cao Ba Minh
Portrait of a Soldier after War.

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Detail of Reading the "Stars and Stripes" by Dominic Sondy.
Dominic Sondy
Reading the Stars and Stripes.

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Detail of Self Portrait by Farris Parker.
Farris Parker
Self Portrait.

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Detail of Pacific Sorrows by George Klauba.
George Klauba
Pacific Sorrows.

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Detailof Head Spirit by Gregory Van Maanen.
Gregory Van Maanen
Head Spirit.

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Detail of The Shrine by James McJunkin.
James McJunkin
The Shrine.

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Detail of Typewriter for Writing the Great War Novel; Two Kinds of Murder by Jay Burton Hellwege.
Jay Burton Hellwege
Typewriter for Writing the Great War Novel; Two Kinds of Murder.

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Detail of Man in the box by John Weaver.
John Weaver
Man in the Box.

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Detail of Black Heart by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Black Heart.

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Detail of REHumanization by Peter Sullivan.
Peter Sullivan
REHumanization.

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Detail of Wall CVII Citadel by Richard Olson.
Richard Olson
Wall CVII Citadel.

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Detail of Come and Get It by Rodger Jacobs.
Rodger Jacobs
Come and Get It.

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Detail of Untitled (Bones Won) by Stan Gillett.
Stan Gillett
Untitled (Bones Won).

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Detail of Night Life. The Persistence of Memory by Thomas Gilbertson.
Thomas Gilbertson
Night Life -
The Persistence of Memory.

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A Quilt of Valor is a quality-made quilt that is quilted by hand or machine. It is awarded as a way to say "Thank you for your service, sacrifice, and valor in serving our nation."

Workshop Artwork. Author: Various authors. Title: Quilts of Valor.
Quilts of Valor.

This Quilt of Valor was made by the D.C. branch Treasured Piece Makers team of 11 quilters led by Anne Crouch. Participating artists include: Wanda Dockery, Marilynn Farrell, Paula Geisz, Jodie Gerka, Linda Listro, Colleen Neutzling, Becky Pool, Sharron Sample, Brenda Spicer, Letitia Westray, and Anne Crouch.
At the completion of the exhibit, this quilt will be donated to the National Veterans Art Museum.

The 8th& I Young Marines, ages 8-18, collaborated in an intergenerational workshop with the residents and staff of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. The contents of these chests convey the diversity in concepts and meanings of gratitude from both a generation who served and a generation who will serve.

Workshop Artwork. Author: Various authors. Title: Treasure Chests of Gratitude.
Treasure Chests of Gratitude.

These 35 artwork tiles were created in two workshops conducted with Officers of US Public Health Service and Veteran residents of the DC Veteran Administration, Community Living Center. The tiles were made in response to the prompts “What’s the song in your heart?” and “What song soothes you, motivates you, relaxes you, inspires you?” Workshop attendees listened to musical selections while creating their artwork and sharing the significance of their musical selection. Their involvement in Behind the Uniform’s programming highlights the power of music as an accessible, diverse, and therapeutic method of creative connections and emphasizing music’s power to create and support well-being.

Workshop Artwork. Author: Various authors. Title: The Song in My Heart.
The Song in My Heart.
Workshop Artwork. Author: Various authors. Title: The Song in My Heart.
The Song in My Heart.

Participating artists were: Iman Martin, Joseph Allen, Tracy Powell, Juanika Mainor-Harper, T. Sumner, Chandima Deegak, Natalie Li, Shannon Davies, Dan Johnson, Devin Thomas, Fran Abanyie, Catherine Beaucham, Caroline Schrodt, Katrina Redman, R. Kelly, Patrick Harper, Ginny Bowen, Khadar Diria, Medina-Jaron, Evan Williams, Andrya Grossman, Edward Kelly, Nicolette Rubin, Donald Gibson, Jason Fort, Bernie Gibson, Bobby Dillard, Michael Greene, Terry Neal, Willie Young, Joseph Simmons, Stephen Pogash, Deb Volker, Kenneth Peyko, and Moira McGuire.

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