100 Faces of War

JR came across this fantastic story of artist Matt Mitchell who is painting the portraits of 100 Portraits of Americans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has set up an online exhibition at100FacesofWarExperience.org and each image is both touching and educational. As of today's date, he has completed 36 portraits and will continue his project until he reaches 100. Most of the portraits are done in person, however, some of the portraits are done posthumously. The artist asks for a statement from the subject, or from their family. The combination of words with the visual image can be both provoking and heartbreaking.

100 Faces of War Experience Portrait: Jeffery Michael Lucey by artist Matt Mitchell 2008

One of the portraits that touched us was that of Jeffery Michael Lucey of Belchertown, MA. A Marine Lance Corporal Convoy Driver, Lucey served in Iraq in 2003. Upon returning home from Iraq, he took his own life due to Post-Traumatic Stress. A letter that he wrote from Iraq accompanies the portrait, and broke my heart:

Baby,
If you have this letter, I am no longer around. This was not written to make you cry, but to let you know that because of you I lived a happy and complete life. Because of you I was able to experience what real love is and how wonderful the feeling, to truly be in love. Of course we also showed each other how frustrated we could really get but I wouldn’t even change that. You were the only person I ever loved but I don’t want that to be so for you. Live your life and enjoy every moment. I will always be there with you, watching you, and since you’re alive don’t play dead; live and find love again. Make some guy as happy as you made me, but make sure he treats you better than I did. You are an angel and deserve to be treated like a goddess.

Portrait of Rick Yarosh, who was injured in an IED in Iraq 2006, painted by artist Matt Mitchell in 2008.

Some of the portraits are done in military uniforms (ranging from dress blues to a PT shirt) while other represent the subject in a casual t-shirt or tank top. Each subject is placed against a subtle brown background, with their eyes intent on the viewer. The portraits become an intimate moment captured of the subject and an intimate experience from the viewer. Different branches of the military are represented as well as National Guard and civilians who have been to Iraq/Afghanistan during the conflicts. Some of the strongest portraits show veterans that survived an IED and brings the reality of war to the portrait series. The portrait to the left is currently on exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.

The portraits can be viewed at a variety of exhibitions, mostly on the east coast. Please visit the 100 Faces of War website to view the current exhibition schedules. We hope that the portraits will eventually come to California to view the portraits for ourselves.

If you participated in the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, you can apply on the website to have a portrait done.

~ Nicole

Originally posed on PTSDdiary.com on 8/22/10