For many, military service is a journey of constant movement, memory, and change. In a new exhibition at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles, veterans and active-duty service members have come together to trace those journeys through art.
“My Military Journey” features works by service members, Department of Defense civilians, and veterans. It highlights their personal experiences of resilience and creativity. The exhibition, held in conjunction with the Master Sgt. Petry Chapter of the Association of the United States Army, was open to all artists who served in the military.
“The goal was to highlight the diverse art mediums and styles from each individual who has served our country,” according to Jordan Hockett, curator and operations manager for Studios on the Park. “We welcomed as many people as possible.”
The exhibit showcases 13 different local artists who represent branches of the military. The works include paintings, photography, ceramics, mixed media, and textiles.
The work of one featured artist, Dennis Curry—who is a resident artist at Studios on the Park—reflects his military service and lifelong connection to nature. Curry served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and was offered a role in the Army’s combat artist program, which played a role in his decision to pursue art. He says the experience helped him see art as something worth taking seriously.
After witnessing the environmental destruction during the war, Curry saw his work as a way to honor nature. “I wanted to encourage people to respect the natural world rather than destroy it,” he says.
Curry is exhibiting two works: a wildlife lithograph inspired by his time in Africa, and an oil landscape painting reflecting his later shift towards Central Coast landscapes.
Another participating artist, Amy Phillips, took a mixed-media approach to the exhibition. An Army veteran with 13 years of service in the National Guard and Army Reserve, Phillips created a piece that maps her military journey across the United States.
“It’s a roadmap of all the places I’ve been stationed,” Phillips says. “Creating the piece brought back many memories.”
Her work is bordered with moving company tape, a detail she says many veterans will recognize. “We moved so often that I turned it into a game for my kids,” she says. “They collected the moving stamps on our boxes and earned a nickel for each one.”
The exhibition runs through January 28 in the Atrium Gallery at Studios on the Park. It’s open Sunday through Thursday from noon to 4 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from noon to 9 p.m.
Studios on the Park is a nonprofit dedicated to providing a creative, educational, and transformational experience to enhance understanding and appreciation of the visual arts.