Hometown Heroes Inspire Artwork

Those who stay behind during a time of war are often left to feel powerless in order to show gratitude. Artist Mark Brickey knows the feeling.

Buffalo area soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq have roused his passionate artwork.

The Hero Design Studio at the Ansonia Center, 712 Main St., is currently exhibiting seven pieces representative of six soldiers who've died in Iraq, as part of the "How Soon is Now?" exhibit.

Brickey, a genuinely passionate individual who studied fine arts at the University of Kentucky before moving to Buffalo, is responsible for the creation of the artwork, which consists mainly of portraits.

Brickey stated that his work was motivated by frustration with the war, along with feeling of helplessness and the knowledge that many young people stateside were unaware of the loss of life.

"I want awareness for the soldiers and the sacrifices they've made. More than half (of them) left behind children," said Brickey when asked about the possible impact of his work.

Brickey was very clear that this exhibit is a nonbiased tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives and is not linked with any political agenda. He spoke with intensity as he talked of possible long-term goals, which included acquiring a building or a city block to turn into an Iraq Memorial. These are ambitious ideas coming from a man sitting in a 300-square foot work area, little more than a hallway and adjoining office space.

"This exhibit here is meant to get our foot in the door, because actions speak louder than words," he said. "Everyone's got an idea."

The immediate goal of the exhibit is to get word of the work to someone willing to sponsor a larger gallery, in order to create a larger, more fitting tribute.

The artwork itself consisted of six, 3-foot by 4-foot portraits and one large collage work, 8-feet by 6-feet. All the pieces were drawn in grayscale using an Apple computer with a digital pen and tablet, then printed and pasted onto frames consisting of plywood and two-by-fours. The glue process created natural wrinkles and rips in the work, which accented the style referred to as "a fusion of street, classic propaganda posters, and urban advertising."

The pieces are purposefully oversized to make the viewer feel insignificant in the light of the sacrifice these men have made.

"You should feel small," said Brickey.

The word "HERO" in large, bold, capital letters is plastered across each of the portraits and a small signature of the artist resides in the lower right corner of each.

Army Pvt. David Evans Jr., 18, is depicted grinning broadly in military uniform. Behind him is an American flag. His appearance is that of an innocent youth and he wears a pointed military service hat. The art speaks for itself: This man, who was just newly a man, was taken before his time.

Marine Lance Cpl. J. Orlowski, 26, wears a wide-brimmed white military hat and military garb. His face is permeated with a sense of optimism, his lightheartedness, tragic, in light of what has befallen him.

Marine Lance Cpl. Tomorio D. Burkett, 21, wears a wide-brimmed hat as well, identical to Orlowski's. However, his look is more mature, straight faced, dignified. He stands out in the group, his head tilted forward slightly as he peers from beneath his formal cap.

Army Pfc. Charles E. Bush, Jr., 43, wears a black army cap and a grin that conveys a sense of mature pride in his work. This was a career man's portrait and communicates a certain diligence and sincerity of spirit.

Army Sgt. David M. McKeever, 25, wears a pointed military hat and in his face gleams a determined calm. He has the look of a serious man who knew what was expected of him and knew himself capable.

Army Spc. Michael L. Williams, 46, bears a proud demeanor, dark eyes and mustache. He wears a military cap and is the eldest among his fallen comrades; he has an experienced aura about him.

The final piece is a large collage containing all of the men. There is a large Burkett on the left, no doubt chosen for his serious demeanor, and a slightly smaller Orlowski on the right. The other four are given their own rows of portraits copied and arrayed in levels horizontally.

The "How Soon Is Now?" is an inspiring testament to the bravery of Buffalo soldiers. There is no charge to observe the work.