Not Alone: Exploring Bonds Between and With Members of the Armed Forces

Co-curated with Jason Hanasik. San Francisco Arts Commission Galleries: Main Gallery. November 2016 - March 2017

Artists: Sarah Dale, Rodney Ewing, Michael Hall, Monica Haller, Jason Hanasik & Blake Montgomery, Jessica Hines, Amber Hoy, Jennifer Karady, Amanda Lucier, Whitney Lynn, Suzanne Opton, Althea Thauberger, Ehren Tool, and The Exquisite Corpse of the Unknown Veteran project organized by Aaron Hughes & Jeanne Dunning featuring 99 Bay Area artists and veteran artists.

Not Alone: Exploring Bonds Between and With Members of the Armed Forces is an expansive exhibition featuring works by local and national artists, as well as Veteran artists, who have been engaged with supporting active-duty personnel and/or Veterans over long periods of time. Co-curated by SFAC Galleries Director Meg Shiffler and filmmaker/curator Jason Hanasik, the exhibition delves into the multifaceted relationships between military service members, their families, and the broader community. Through diverse media—including photography, drawings, prints, sculpture, audio works, installations, and video—the artists explore themes of identity, trauma, resilience, and the complexities of military life.

The exhibition presents a range of projects that highlight the experiences of those who serve and their care comunities. Jessica Hines' photographic series My Brother’s War offers an intimate portrayal of her brother's return from Iraq, capturing the emotional and psychological impact of his service. Rodney Ewing's sculptural work Sum of My Father uses wool military blankets and engraved nameplates to examine the legacy of military service and its effects on family identity. The collaborative project The Exquisite Corpse of the Unknown Veteran, organized by Jeanne Dunning and Aaron Hughes, invites 99 artists to create collaborative portraits, symbolizing the collective experience of veterans. 

Not Alone not only showcases the artistic responses to military life but also serves as a platform for dialogue and understanding. The exhibition underscores the importance of creative expression in processing and communicating the experiences of those affected by military service. By engaging with these works, viewers are invited to reflect on the complexities of support, sacrifice, and the enduring bonds formed through shared experiences. The exhibition remains a poignant reminder of the diverse narratives that constitute the fabric of military life and its impact on individuals and communities.

Not Alone is supported by the California Arts Council's Veterans Initiative in the Arts. The SFAC would like to thank the American Legion and the veteran organizations in the Veterans Building.