The Air Force through art
If you've walked down the hallways at any Air Force base, the Pentagon or an aviation museum, chances are you've seen works from the Air Force Art Program.
For more than 50 years, the Air Force has recognized the value and longevity of fine art and has invited artists to installations around the world.
Russell Kirk, director of the Air Force Art Program since 2002, said it plays a large part in illustrating Air Force life.
"We have more than 10,000 works in the collection, all donated," Kirk said. "My job is to make sure (the artwork) is out and about and it's telling the Air Force story through the medium of artwork."
Usually, a major command in the Air Force will contact program directors to have artists watch an event, exercise or unit. Program directors contact professional societies to organize the trips for the artists. The Air Force pays for the plane ticket, reimburses artists for some expenses and hosts them for a period of days.
In return, the artists donate their work to the Air Force Art Program, which distributes them to installations and museums around the world.
Some of the aviation artists make 5- to 6-digit commissions on their work "and we may get one to two pieces from each of them." Kirk said. "If we had to commission this artwork, we couldn't do it."
The artists say they get a lot out of the experience.
"We like to think that we are documenting history," said John Witt, who spent time with the 16th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field in 2004. "And it's our job. And the works we do are going to live much longer than us."
Three artists visited Eglin Air Force Base this week to put their artistic mark on the Air Force story. During their four-day visit, they were to visit the McKinley Climatic Lab, the Air Force Research Laboratory, the 33rd Fighter Wing Maintenance Squadron, the Navy Explosive Ordnance School and watch Sensor Week exercises.
Artist Richard Grider is a former Air Force officer, but said he still learned so much this week about "what the Air Force does to keep our country safe and secure."
"The (program) has made me feel a part of what the military is doing for our country and proud to have served in the Air Force and proud to be an American," Grider said.
Artist Fred Smith, who spent five or six days at Duke Field in 2006, agreed.
"It's our way to serve," Smith said. "I was so impressed with the Reserve officers that I joined the L.A. County Sheriff's Reserve."
He would have joined the Air Force Reserve but he was too old.
Smith, a wildlife illustrator, spent time with the 919th Special Operations Wing. He watched preflight briefings, flight crews preparing the planes and even flew a refueling mission on an MC-130E Combat Talon out of Duke Field.
He was quite taken with Eglin reservation.
"The air base was so lush - all kinds of wildlife," said Smith, who added that he expected to see barbed wire and towers. "I was so impressed with it. ... I would have liked to do more paintings."