Throughout this month Del Ray Artisans is putting the focus on people who wear uniforms of every kind with the exhibit RESPECT: Unsung Heroes in Uniform, where artists express their point of view, whether humorous or somber.
Artists take a look at these heroes, who range from coaches and veterans to retail service workers and police officers and everyone in between.
We spoke with curator Tracy Wilkerson about the focus of this exhibit.
What can audience members expect from the exhibit?
Artists were asked to share their thoughts, whether it’s funny, thought-provoking or in memory of someone they lost. Although most people think of the obvious uniform (police, fire, rescue, military), this show is attempting to acknowledge and respect all individuals who wear a uniform, regardless what type of uniform it is.
Why is this exhibit important to have now in light of everything going on in today’s society?
I have always recognized that when one is in uniform, people see the uniform but don’t see the person behind the uniform. They are people, too; they have stories. My original reason for choosing to curate this show was to recognize those individuals behind the uniform, but with recent activities and rulings across the states, this exhibit will mean more than just that.
Some of the headlines today are very disturbing with those who have sworn to protect and save lives; they now have a choice based on their personal beliefs. There was a disturbing commercial floating around Facebook recently that showed a doctor and a policeman standing around while chaos reigned behind them, stating “It’s just a job. I don’t feel like doing it today.” It was very unsettling to watch as most people perform those types of jobs because they want to help others. Those in uniform, by donning the uniform, have sworn to fulfill the capacity of that job.
Every person in this world, whether in uniform or not, is an individual with their own thoughts, ideas, visions, passions and interests. We all need to respect that every single person is different and unique. Just because we have differing interests or thoughts doesn’t mean that one is right and one is wrong—we can all respect each other and embrace those differences.
There is also a small memorial section for visitors to reflect and remember. Why was this important to have as part of the exhibit?
Many times, a person in uniform is killed on duty because of the uniform, not because of the individual. This memorial is an opportunity for visitors to reflect on individuals who (intentionally or unintentionally) put themselves in harm’s way during the course of their job. I wanted to ensure it was part of the exhibit so that visitors can take the opportunity to pause from their busy lives and reflect on whatever they need to.
RESPECT: Unsung Heroes in Uniform takes place June 3-26 at Del Ray Artisans Gallery: 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria.