While at the conference take in a show

Peninsula Fine Arts Center in Newport News, VA, has done what the military services have never done: assemble a comprehensive show of combat art from the Marine Corps, Navy, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard collections under one roof.  The Marine Corps’ collection is well represented, with over 60 works (the most from any one service).
 
The show is divided among three themes:
“In the Line of Fire,” which showcases works by artists who were eye-witnesses to the events; “The Art of War,” which is an historical perspective going back to the very earliest years of armed American conflict; and “First Person,” which includes the most recent works of artists who have deployed to today’s Global War on Terrorism, including Marine Corps artists CWO3 Michael Fay and Sgt Kris Battles.
 
Ed Condra, Marine Corps combat artist whose Vietnam-era work is included in the show, told the opening gala audience how moved he was to see so many different styles and such an inclusive collection of great art. The National Museum of the Marine Corps is so very proud to be a partner in this show.
 
The show runs through 1 November.
The Peninsula Arts Center is not far off I-64 as you head for the greater Hampton Roads area.
Several of the artists, including our own Marine Corps artists working today, will participate in a “Meet the Artists” night on 15 September, and we’re hoping to arrange for a Marine Corps Band to perform on 20 September for “Sunday in the Park.”
This Arts Center is next door to the Mariner’s Museum, so there is much to do in the vicinity.