Bolling officials to display 200 new Air Force paintings

  • Published
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Air Force officials will display more than 200 new Air Force Art Program paintings from about 150 artists Oct. 21 through 24 at the Officers' Club at Bolling Air Force Base, D.C. 

The art was given by artists from around the country and donated to the Air Force, bringing the total number of paintings in the Air Force collection to more than 9,400.

The exhibit at Bolling AFB will feature paintings donated by artists who traveled to document the Air Force's mission throughout the world to include operations in Iraqi and Afghanistan. These trips inspired the artists to come home and create paintings, which they then donated to the Air Force.

"The art program does not require an artist to paint a single painting," said Russell D. Kirk, the Air Force Art Program director. "However, most feel compelled to paint numerous paintings. Some even illustrate while they are observing the operations."

The Air Force Art Program began in 1950, with the transfer of some 800 works of art documenting the early days of the Army Air Corps. In the early 1950s, the Air Force sponsored tours of its installations for cartoonists, artists and illustrators to record the Air Force story through art. The Pentagon is the largest showcase for the art, but paintings are spread around the globe at every Air Force base.

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

View the comments/letters page