Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan to be honored with bronze sculptures by Michael Jernigan.
Michael Jernigan working on an Honoring the Troops portrait sculpture
When sculptor Michael Jernigan saw the advertising headline “General Petraeus or General Betray US?” his blood began to boil. A Vietnam-Era vet himself, Jernigan felt the outrageous headline did a huge disservice to all military families past, present and future. Never one to sit idly by, Jernigan decided he would do something about it. He would turn his artistic talents towards honoring the sacrifices the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans made for our freedoms. Jernigan would create bronze portrait sculptures of the actual men, women and K9 who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Now four years later after embedded tours with the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, Jernigan is ready to begin the next leg of his mission. On Friday July 29 he will set out from Keystone RV headquarters in Goshen, Indiana, in his Outback trailer/mobile studio–on loan from Keystone for two years–to complete the final, detail work on the 21 sculptures. Over the next 24 months the mobile studio will crisscross the country revisiting the military personnel Jernigan first photographed in the deserts and mountains of the Middle East.
The Outback Keystone RV loaned to Jernigan with Sharpline exterior graphics
“I’ll be doing one-on-one sittings with each of my subjects inside the Outback mobile studio,” comments Jernigan. “The Outback is ideal. This model has a large ‘garage’ area up front where I have mounted a barber chair and other equipment. With the subject sitting in front of me I will add the final detail to the sculpture. By bringing my studio to the subject’s home, we can work in a relaxed environment and his or her family can watch and comment as I incorporate the unique features that turn art to life.”
Jernigan will complete approximately one sculpture per month and expects to have all 21 bronze sculptures on display in the fall of 2013. The exhibit will appear at West Point, Annapolis, Army War College, Naval War College, Vietnam Veterans Art Museum, The von Liebig Art Center, the Florida State Capitol, and possibly the Pentagon and the National Portrait Gallery. Once the exhibition tour is final, the bronze sculptures will be presented to each of the subjects.
Adds Jernigan, “As a Vietnam Era vet stationed in Japan, I am doing my part to help make certain our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are respectfully honored for the service they have provided our country.”
Keystone RV Company is a major sponsor of the Honoring the Troops Tour. Keystone president Bob Martin says that this is a cause every American can get behind. “The men and women in our armed services and their families have made huge sacrifices to help provide us with the freedoms we enjoy. The creation of these life-like bronze sculptures will help us all remember what they have done for us.”
For more information on the Outback Honoring the Troops Mobile Studio, visit httms.com or follow twitter.com/httms. For information on Outback RVs go to www.keystone-outback.com