A tribute to America’s men and women in the military. By Dennis A. Francesconi. [Member] Mouth and Foot Painting Artists.
This piece is made up of 8 separate canvases. Due to my reach, I had to paint each canvas separately. At completion, it was fastened together with a custom strapping system. Its size is 72 inches high by 48 inches wide, or 183cm by 122cm. This piece consumed 3 1/2 months of my life. Countless headaches and days of blurred vision were common during the process, but I couldn’t give up. This one’s for the soldiers.
*Why have I done this piece…?
Well, it’s quite simple, and the title says it all. First of all,– I’m not an activist in any way. I’m just a regular guy who happens to be an artist. When the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan started, I was glued to the television like many people. I saw all of the flag waving, and all of the patriotism on television and around town. This was widely visible from the big cities to small towns across America. Sadly, many of these civilian acts of patriotism and support for our troops slowly faded, and everyday life quietly resumed. But for me, every time I saw the news then and even now, I see the very people, [the volunteers I might add], who are the reason that we enjoy our freedom as we know it. These people fight and die for us. Some make it back home alright, some don’t, and others come home seriously disabled. These people are our warriors and they should not be forgotten. The imagery in this piece came together in my mind as a way to honor those who serve in our military.
*Lastly, this painting was not intended to make a statement such as pro-war, or anti-war. Right or wrong, this is not the first war, nor will it be the last. Human nature, religion, and century old hatreds will make sure of that.
Dennis A. Francesconi
**Many thanks to my wife Kristi and my father-in-law Jim for their assistance throughout this project…;)