Photographs on Exhibit in the Iraqi Desert
Although totally against the war in Iraq… part of history now… I wanted to do something back then. I somehow found this organization that sent things to soldiers in Iraq and other places. I think the organization is long gone but my memories aren’t.
Use slider to see photos. I wanted to put music to this and unfortunately the pictures repeat but my computer skills don’t include how to do and fix those things in posting so this will have to do to give some idea of the show just plain and simple.
*****
There was no Iraq war when my husband and I bought a tiny, old converted dairy barn in Stanfordville in Dutchess County, New York. But it was in the works. After moving upstate, we were involved in our own little lives, falling in love with the scenery of the area. As a photographer, I started taking photographs all the time. The landscape was so beautiful, I must have taken hundreds of photographs of animals and trees and enlarged many of them thinking I might get a show one day. Well, I wound up having many small shows in little bookstores and restaurants and office buildings, even exhibited in a group show in a gallery in New York City– but none was like this one!
The Iraq war was in full swing when we were upstate. It killed me to have all these photographs sitting in bins in my studio. I loved the subjects of these photos, the countryside of the Hudson Valley and its animal denizens, and wanted to share the beauty.
And then one day a voice inside said, “Send the photos to Iraq.” I researched organizations sending comfort items and necessities to Iraq and found two. Neither said anything about sending photographs but one said something about soldiers requesting posters. I was thinking “Anjolina Jolie type” posters but when I inquired, the responses were encouraging. So all excited, I sent off fifty of my nature photographs of scenes from Dutchess County to the two organizations.
Life intervened and I forgot about the photos. Until the founder of the organization, Give2theTroops.com, wrote me three emails, the email below, a link to the thank you note from her husband in Al-Anbar, Iraq, and on the following day, photos of my photos in Iraq. I had never heard of Al-Anbar, Iraq. Now it is unforgettable.
*****
From: “Andi Grant”
To: “Ellen Stockdale
Subject: A HUGE thank you and hug.
Date: Saturday, March 01, 2008 7:42 AM
Ellen, I sent over several of your beautiful photography pieces, but I was waiting for a group in a desolate area with NOTHING on their walls.
As it turns out, that desolate, remote group ended up being my husband’s unit! (Sgt. Brian Grant, U.S. Marine Corps) who arrived in Iraq not too long ago. He and his Marines live in mud sheds, with NO toilets and NO showers, and they must urinate and defecate in bags and then burn their waste!
The nicest part is when he told me, “Andi, I opened the box and there were all these BEAUTIFUL photos that I hung up allover our walls. We must live in the most luxurious shed ever! ( I sent them each pillows, sheets, etc.)
They have ugly bare walls with graffiti on them and I believe a few bullet holes to from what I could tell in his photo. Their only window is piled high with sandbags to keep any enemy bullets out.
I personally packed the boxes with your framed photos in them and am so happy they did not get ruined!
So I wanted you to know it made my day to hear Brian got boxes which I packed him, that my idea of sending him the photos was well accepted and that you were willing to do this for our troops! You made a lot of troops happy as I am sure those photos will stay on for incoming troops after Brian leaves.
I’ll see if Brian can send a few photos of your photography on the walls … They are very busy so I am not sure if they have time, but the next time he calls me, I will ask him, okay?
So thank you again, Ellen!
Love,
Andi Grant
*****
Then Andi Grant sent me the link to the website where the following letter from her husband appeared…
“Dated 28 February, 2008IraqDear Give2TheTroops (Connecticut Branch),
We received another 7 boxes from you! Wow! I put all of the toiletries on the large table in the bathroom and I put up the cards from Xerox in our hallway and above all of the toiletries. I opened the box which was full of great snacks. I was throwing the guys beef jerky, gum, candy, trailmix, and sunflower seeds non-stop. I told them to bring the snacks on the road with us each day so I could get some. I took a few bags for myself but I gave the rest away. It was so much fun! I gave G2TT brochures to several guys who are leaving soon but will be deployed in the next year or so. I also put the box of snacks out in the eating area and put a sign saying that all of it was donated by G2TT.Thanks also for all those great pillows you sent us. We are so appreciative! We also loved the large framed photos that were sent by photographer Ellen Stockdale Wolfe. Those went right up. Our walls are dirty with spider/ cob webs and various Arabic writing in the hall and other places. The pictures really make the room come to life and make it cozy. Some of the photos look remind me of the places I ride my Harley. It really makes things nice. Our only window is piled with sandbags (to prevent bullets coming in) so at least we see the outside and “home” with those photos. We took a photo with the Connecticut State flag in honor of all our supporters there and we all signed it and we’re sending it back to you to hang up!If you can, please send us children’s clothing, school supplies and small toys for all the children we see. Thank you so much for all you do for us and ALL the troops over here in all branches of service.Love,BrianSgt. B.H. Grant and our Marines from PTT 23 PTT Team 23U.S. Marine Corps”
My husband noted that in the photos Sgt. Brian Grant sent, he had selected the peaceful water scenes to display. Not surprising given their living conditions.
I plan to send more photographs. Now they go to the Vets from that war.
If anyone is interested in contributing anything to the men and women overseas, the website explains how and what is needed:
Informal art show
An informal art show of photographs and photographs of original paintings before they go as a donation hopefully.
MOONSIDE 
You must be logged in to post a comment.