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Date: 10/11/2023
WARE — HomeFront Strong will have its Shaped by Service Art Show the week of Veterans Day, hosted by Workshop13, at their Artworks Gallery on 69 Main St. This show celebrates the influence of military service members, veterans and their family members, as they channel those experiences of service, into their art.
The show dates and times are Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 4-12, 1-5 p.m.
“This is our third art show,” said executive director Jennifer Baublitz of HomeFront Strong. “It’s all about highlighting and showcasing the stories of service through visual art. Any type of medium is welcome, as long as it fits through the door. Whether it’s paint, charcoal, watercolor, pencil, photography, quilting, 2-D, 3-D and even sculpture.”
All service members, veterans and immediate family members who would like to submit their artwork, may do so free of charge and without be juried. All others who would like to submit their art work, may do so for a $25 charge per piece. All artwork submitted, must relate to the military service theme.
Artwork must fit through a standard height, 36-inch wide door, and if over 30 inches wide, must come provided with suitable display stands. HomeFront Strong’s COO and artist, Donald Longley will be a juror for pieces submitted for the show.
Formerly known as the Brookfield Institute, HomeFront Strong a military and veteran family support organization located in Ware serving all the surrounding towns including Palmer, Belchertown, Ludlow and the Brookfields. They also have programs that go beyond the central Quaboag region including the HomeFront Strong Connects and HomeFront Strong Storytelling programs. HomeFront Strong itself has only been in existence for a couple of years, but their overarching organization, the Brookfield Institution, was established back in 2007. They became HomeFront Strong through a process of strategic planning that led to the development of what is now HomeFront Strong Connects in 2021, and their official name changed at the onset of 2023.
The Shaped by Service Art Show falls under the umbrella of their Storytelling program. This year, HomeFront Strong sat down with four of their artists for a storytelling interview. The artists shared their artistic journey and where it intersects with their military journey. Those interviews are currently being edited and put together for a video that they’ll be sharing at the artists’ reception on Nov. 12. One of HomeFront Strong’s goals is to integrate the art show further with the storytelling component, which they’re in the process of working on now. They really want to showcase more of the artist’s stories, attract new artists to submit their work and help people understand the diverse stories of service, especially in New England.
“We are not specifically a veteran organization,” Baublitz responded. “We really do focus on the boarder community of service members, veterans and their family members and we recognize that especially in New England people serve in different capacities including, and actually most predominantly, in the National Guard and Reserves.” She went on to say, “We’re interested in that broader story and capturing stories of Guard and reservists, active duty members, their family members and of course diversity among the military and veteran population in terms of gender, race and ethnicity.”
The takeaway Baublitz wants individuals to have with this show is to feel the depths of service experiences not just limited to what is prominent in pop culture, but as it relates to service among service members, veterans and family members in Massachusetts and New England. She wants them to get an idea of what those experiences are like through the stories that are told with the pieces featured in the show and appreciate how art and culture intersects with service, and the mutual influence of that service.
Baublitz said, “The most fulfilling aspect of Shaped by Service for me has been the tremendous interest shown by the community in this event as well as the connections and relationships formed through participation.”
She continued, “There is a real enthusiasm among the veteran and military community for expression through arts and culture, and showcasing this work allows for those who serve to truly be seen.”
Interested artists should complete the entry form at brookfieldinstitute.org/shaped-by-service and submit pictures of your artwork to jennifer@brookfieldinstitute.org. At this time, HomeFront Strong are unable to accept electronic media and do not accept AI generated work.
The entry deadline is Oct. 23 by midnight. Entrants will receive notification of results on Oct. 27. Artists can hand deliver entries on Sunday, Oct. 29 and 30, 1 to 3 p.m. A closing reception will take place Sunday, Nov. 12, 3-5 p.m. Artists can pick up artwork on Sunday, Nov. 12, 4-5 p.m.
Artists should check the spelling and the price of each piece before submitting work. 2-D work must be framed and securely wired across for hanging. HomeFront Strong will receive a 10 percent donation on all work sold. Art need not be for sale, but it is encouraged. Artists retain all copyrights to submitted images and represented artwork. By entering the competition, artists selected to exhibit grant HomeFront Strong and Workshop13 the rights to use the selected images on social media, the website, and printed materials for promotional purposes as well as the online show posted on the HomeFront Strong website.