Military Veterans and Trauma Survivors Honored at The Army and Navy Club in Washington, DC
by Artist Susan J. Barron
(Washington, DC—January 29, 2019) – Artist Susan J. Barron is bringing her acclaimed portrait series, Depicting the Invisible: A Portrait Series of Veterans Suffering from PTSD, to The Army and Navy Club on Farragut Square in Washington DC, from February 15 through April 15, 2019.
The members-only Army and Navy Club will open its doors to the public on Saturdays (except March 2) from 11am to 2pm throughout the duration of the exhibition. The Club’s dress code requires a coat and tie for men and comparable attire for women.
A private exhibition opening for members and guests was held this evening at the Club from 6:30 pm to 8 pm featuring a live conversation with the artist and author Charles W. “Chuck” Newhall III. Newhall is the author of “Fearful Odds, A Memoir of Vietnam and Its Aftermath,” and is the most recent veteran to sit for a portrait with Barron.
Depicting the Invisible features fifteen American military veterans who have survived the trauma of war and are living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Barron’s oversized black-and-white photographic portraits are hand-painted with the subjects’ stories in their own words. Staring into the camera, these veterans display both their strength and vulnerability. The elegance of the images is juxtaposed with the brutality of the narratives, revealing complex layers of meaning.
Barron’s intent is to illuminate the veteran’s experiences and to initiate a conversation around the sensitive issue of PTSD. “Twenty-two veterans commit suicide every day in our country,” says Barron. “The invisible wounds of war are just as devastating as the visible ones. My mission is to bring awareness to the PTSD epidemic and to provide a platform for veterans to share their stories.”
“The Army and Navy Club is proud to host ‘Depicting the Invisible,'” says General John Altenburg, Chairman of The Army and Navy Club Library Trust. “Susan’s work captures the PTSD epidemic through a deeply intimate lens, instilling her veteran subjects with dignity while building empathy in all who see her work. This important exhibition brings much-needed awareness to the triumphs and challenges facing our combat veterans today; it is my hope that all who see this show will be inspired to make a difference in the veteran community.”
The Veteran Experience
Depicting the Invisible: Craig
One work depicts Corporal Butler with his dog as he recounts the horrors of war: “When I got back from Iraq, I’d have this one recurring nightmare—I had to watch my buddy die.” Butler was united with his service dog after his second suicide attempt. In another work, Sergeant Carter sits in a wheelchair and reflects: “I’m paralyzed from the neck down for the rest of my life. I spent 16 months in a VA hospital, and I saw that it could be so much worse.” In the portrait of Sergeant Trotter, the story of her rape by a fellow soldier confronts the intersection of military sexual assault and the #MeToo movement.
Also on view, A Table for the Fallen is an interactive work, where individual visitors are invited to sit at a table for one and to create a personal tribute to a fallen soldier whom they wish to honor. A discreetl y arranged camera will record each guest’s experience, and Barron will use the footage to compose a video work.
An art book of the portrait series has been published. The proceeds from the book’s first edition will go to Freedom Fighters Outdoors (FFO), an organization that supports veterans in their struggles with PTSD. Signed copies of the book will be available for sale at the opening reception.
Depicting the Invisible: Josh and Emma
About
Barron is a nationally recognized and internationally collected artist. Her figurative and politically motivated paintings have been shown in galleries from San Francisco to New York, including at New York City’s Caelum Gallery and HG Contemporary gallery, the Kevin Butler Gallery in Massachusetts, the First Frontier Collage Society in Texas, and the Lark Creek Gallery in California.
Her work has been featured on Fox 5 News, New York 1, and in the New York Daily News, the New York Post, The Guardian, The Daily Mail, and Metro.
Following a 2009 trip to Cambodia, where she witnessed firsthand the barriers to education that children in the third world face, Barron founded The Pencil Promise, a company that helped make education available for children in need. With Barron as CEO, the company brought women’s empowerment programs and school supplies to Cambodia, Laos, Kenya, India, and Cuba through 2017.
In 2017, Barron decided to help closer to home with her work, Depicting the Invisible: A Portrait Series of Veterans Suffering from PTSD, which debuted in November 2018, raising awareness about the PTSD epidemic among the American veteran community.
A graduate of Boston University, Ms. Barron studied art at the Art Institute of San Francisco and Yale School for the Arts.
For more information on the artist, please visit: SusanJBarron.com.
Location: The Army and Navy Club, 901 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006
Public opening: Saturday February 16th, 11am-2pm, and subsequent Saturdays (except March 2 when the exhibition is closed) from 11pm-2pm through April 13, 2019.
Cleaning your makeup brushes regularly is essential not only for your skin’s health but also for preserving the life of your tools. Dirty brushes can harbor bacteria, old makeup, oil, and dead skin cells, all of which can contribute to clogged pores, breakouts, and patchy makeup application....
Maintaining healthy, radiant skin and strong, lustrous hair goes beyond topical care. Nutrition plays a crucial role in enhancing the appearance and vitality of your skin and hair from within. Beauty supplements, formulated with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, have gained popularity as an effective way to...
As we age, the skin on our face naturally loses elasticity and firmness due to decreased collagen and elastin production. While this is a natural part of aging, many people seek gentle, non-invasive solutions to maintain a youthful appearance. The good news is, you don’t always need...
Summer can be tough on your skin—heat, humidity, sweat, and excess oil all contribute to clogged pores and unwanted breakouts. That’s why switching to non-comedogenic moisturizers is a smart move. These lightweight formulas hydrate your skin without blocking your pores, making them ideal for all skin types—especially...
As awareness around ethical beauty grows, more consumers in India are choosing cruelty-free makeup brands—products developed without animal testing and often formulated with natural, sustainable ingredients. Switching to cruelty-free cosmetics supports animal welfare and encourages more responsible manufacturing practices.
If you’re in India and want to embrace ethical...
Cakey makeup can be one of the most frustrating challenges for anyone wanting a flawless look that lasts all day. Whether it’s foundation settling into fine lines, powders appearing dry and patchy, or concealer flaking off, cakey makeup can quickly ruin your confidence and overall appearance.
Fortunately, with...
Humidity can wreak havoc on makeup—especially mascara. Whether you're commuting to work, heading to the gym, or spending the day outdoors, the last thing you want is smudged, melted, or raccoon-like eyes. That’s where long-lasting waterproof mascaras come in.
Formulated to resist water, sweat, and humidity, waterproof mascaras...
Teenage years can be challenging when it comes to skincare. Hormonal changes lead to oilier skin, acne breakouts, and other common skin issues. Developing a proper skincare routine early on can help teenage boys maintain healthy skin, prevent acne, and build lifelong habits. This guide breaks down...
Contouring is a makeup technique that uses light and dark shades to define and sculpt the face. For those with round faces, contouring can help add definition, enhance cheekbones, and create the illusion of a more oval or elongated shape. If you're a beginner, learning how to...
As women enter their 40s, the skin begins to show more visible signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, dryness, and loss of firmness. This natural process is influenced by hormonal changes, slower collagen production, and years of exposure to environmental stressors.
Anti-aging night creams are specially...
City living has many perks: convenience, culture, and connectivity. However, one major downside is the constant exposure to pollution. Airborne toxins, dust, smoke, and particulate matter can have damaging effects on the skin, leading to premature aging, dullness, inflammation, and clogged pores. Fortunately, anti-pollution skincare has emerged...
Popularne metody płatności w Polsce slottyway2.com to BLIK, Przelewy24 oraz PayU. Gracze szukają kasyn z wysokim RTP i korzystnymi warunkami bonusowymi. Odpowiedzialna gra to ważny factor w każdym kasynie online.
Kasyna na żywo umożliwiają kontakt z prawdziwym krupierem. Nowe kasyna online przyciągają graczy innowacyjnymi bonusami. Ruletka...