The young men stationed in Vietnam faced profound difficulties upon returning to civilian life. In an era when mental health was often overlooked, issues like PTST, anxiety, and alienation compounded the sense of abandonment felt by many, expected to resume their lives as if unchanged by their experiences.
I endeavored to convey the “invisible wounds” of war with an expression of tension and angst in this young man’s face and hands. From most angles, he remains obscured: a symbol of anonymity and disregarded struggles. Approaching the sculpture face-to-face, as if looking into a mirror, invites a moment of true acknowledgement, interaction, reflection and empathy.
Oregon State Capitol - Salem, OR
Oregon State Capitol - Salem, OR
Final inspection of the patina before it leaves the foundry
Libby applying the first step of the patina process.
Sculpted portrait shown in clay.
I endeavored to convey the “invisible wounds” of war with an expression of tension and angst in this young man’s face.
