Veterans Day
“Pierced Battery Panel” (at Longues-sur-Mer, France)
Natural pigments and acrylic by Mary Lou Dauray - 30” x 30” wooden panel
To our 19 million veterans, thank you for your service
in the United States Armed Forces.
During World War II (1939-1945), the Battle of Normandy, code-named Operation Overlord, lasted from June 1944 to August 1944 and resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany's control. From D-Day through August 21, the Allies landed more than two million men in northern France and suffered more than 226,386 casualties: 72,911 killed/missing and 153,475 wounded. German losses included over 240,000 casualties and 200,000 captured. We still count more than 200,000 veterans from WWII alive today.
This past summer I walked into and around the stark remains of four of the German bunkers at Longues-sur-Mer in Normandy where some of the invasion battle occurred. Rusted parts of guns in the heavily constructed concrete bunkers still remain on the sites.
One of the bunkers at Longues-sur-Mer in Normandy
The emotions of grief and sadness I felt while walking there overwhelmed me. However, I envisioned making an artwork about my experience knowing that the challenge, and the process of constructing the art would afford me a chance to work through some of this heaviness. The resultant art is the painting, “Pierced Battery Panel”, which is my recreation of a blasted side panel found on one of the German 150mm TK C/36 marine guns.
Later that day, while further investigating the battery area, I visited a beach where many soldiers bravely struggled up the soft sandy cliffs while they were being strafed with aircraft bullets. On a whim, I pocketed a small, rounded, white stone that I spotted in the sand.
At the American Memorial Cemetery
Near the end of the long day, I found myself walking slowly and quietly in the historically significant American Cemetery Memorial that is situated overlooking Omaha Beach. This cemetery contains the graves of 9,387 Americans, most of whom died during the landings and ensuing operations and these graves are identified by simple white marble crosses or the Star of David.
As we honor Veterans on this day, it is important to make note of the fact that many soldiers still suffer from moral and physical wounds triggered by their service in WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, extended campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as the Persian Gulf War. Furthermore, based on the trauma information we do have about our own soldiers, I cannot but be concerned about the permanent moral and physical scars presently damaging the Russian and Ukrainian peoples.
A few weeks after being in Normandy, I participated in an art workshop in Spain held at the Flores del Camino Retreat Center in Castillo de los Palvados – an ancient village of 100 people located on the Camino de Santiago route. “The Way” – or “The Camino” – is a 1000-year-old path pilgrims traverse to reach the beautiful Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. For many, the experience can be transformational. During dinner on my second night at the welcoming home of the Flores center, we shared our dining table with a very special group of US soldier pilgrims who were going to embark the next day on a two-week Camino walk. The group, called “Warriors on the Way”, is a pilgrimage embarked upon for “Combat Veterans by Combat Veterans”. The sense of pride, concern, worry, determination, and a desire for renewal, permeated the air during our evening meal. I will never forget those moments.
Cruz de Ferro - The Iron Cross
Along the route to the Cathedral de Compostela in Santiago on the highest point of the Camino, one reaches an iron cross mounted on a tall singular pole. It is here that thousands of pilgrims have deposited meaningful mementos from their own personal journeys. Accordingly, I carefully placed my small white stone from the Normandy beach.
My small white stone from Normandy at the foot of the Iron Cross
I grieve for those who have felt, and currently experience, the pain of losing someone to the moral and physical injuries suffered in wars and conflict. My sadness is profound, and I am extremely grateful that I can pour some of that grief into my artwork.
Until next time,
Mary Lou
All photographs by Mary Lou Dauray
Art Tip
My art processing changed after experiencing the workshop taught by Janice Mason Steeves in Castrillo de los Polvazares. One element I would like to share with you is the fact that I was introduced to collecting from the earth, and then painting, with natural pigments. How this happened is that we, as a group, trekked out on a dusty dirt road in the area and dug up lots of small ocher-colored rocks. Hauling them back to the wonderful Flores workshop, we pounded away at these rocks and ultimately created small pieces of colored pigment. These we mixed with water and acrylic medium and created some amazing paintings. This exercise started me on a journey to begin incorporating a variety of natural pigments in my paintings – I even used some black pigments in the “Battery” painting! By so doing, I feel as though I am engaging directly with nature in my artwork, thereby creating a closer connection to the earth. Making art and being creative can help heal. A vibrancy occurs. Try it!
Resources from this newsletter:
Janice Mason Steeves, Art Workshops in Wild Places – janicemasonsteeves.com
Retreat center on the Camino de Santiago in Castrillo de los Polvozares – floresdelcamino.com
Warriors on the Way to Santiago – warriersontheway.org
Wild Pigment Projects – wildpigmentproject.org
Craftsmanship Magazine – craftsmanship.net
Castrillo de los Polvazares, historic town on the Camino de Santiago – castrillodelospolvazares.com
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