About this event
On January 9, 2002, Marine Sergeant Jeannette L. Winters was killed when her plane struck a mountain in southwestern Pakistan. She was 25 years old – and the first U.S. servicewoman to die in the war on terror.
Combat Grass, an installation by Matthew Boulay, is inspired by Carl Sandburg’s poem, Grass, and honors the sacrifices of the more than 160 female soldiers who have died from war since Sergeant Winters. The exhibition begins with combat boots and shoes (representing the fallen soldiers and the lives they left behind outside of their military duties) strewn over unwatered grass seed.
During the exhibition, visitors are invited to spread more seed, and water the grass, eventually burying the boots and shoes. As in Sandburg’s poem, the growth of the grass represents the passage of time, and the tension that exists between healing and forgetting. In other words, does time heal our wounds, or does it simply allow us to forget them?
Salem Art Association exhibitions are always free and open to the public.
Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday from 10 am-5 pm, and Saturday-Sunday from
Noon-5 pm (weekend hours for this exhibit may vary, please call 503-581-2228 to confirm). Learn more online at https://SalemArt.org/combat-grass.
Location:
Bush Barn Art Center
600 Mission St. SE
Salem, Oregon 97302
For questions, contact James O'Shea at [email protected] or at 503-581-2228 x 307