Special Art Exhibition – For Gallantry | They Also Served

This wonderful event coinciding with Remembrance Day features artworks by Bendigo Artists Sarah Wallace-Smith and Susan McMinn. Their studies into the awe inspiring and heart wrenching stories of dogs and horses at war and their relationships with their humans has inspired these drawings and paintings.

The opening event will be held at Valentine’s Antique Gallery on October 31st 5:30-8pm. Come along and hear the incredible stories attached to these artworks by the Artists themselves, and enjoy a glass of bubbles and a mingle with some other lovely folk!

To RSVP, please email us at info@valentinesantiques.com.au and let us know the number of people attending. This is a free event.

The exhibition will run until the end of January.

Artist Bio – Sarah Wallace-Smith
Sarah Wallace-Smith mines fields of historical and cultural data, seeking out narratives of “the other”. Looking past hero’s and victims, she scuffs around in the detritus of their everyday, exposing clues as to the landscape and environment of the time. Using a visual narrative that often starts with drawing or watercolour, she prompts discussion through rendering objects and sentient beings that once were.
Wallace-Smith’s study of Dickin medal recipients has been an exercise in the age-old practice of telling stories by drawing with a pencil and paper.

Artist Statement – Sarah Wallace-Smith
My dad was so excited for the opportunity to return to England at the outbreak of the second World War. His dreams came true, flying Spitfires from Gravesend and Biggin Hill, near London. On my computer is a photograph of him in uniform outside one of the wooden huts on the airbase, holding a dog. I never had the chance to ask him about it.

Recently, I looked at the photo again, more closely, now with the eyes of a mother of children the same age as he was in the photo. I wondered what on earth these boys did for the interminable hours and days simply waiting for orders to defend, destroy, protect and to kill? What kept them sane? What helped safeguard their moral compass? I think that keeping company with this pooch would have helped sustain my dad.

I started looking for stories about dogs and the relationships formed with their humans during extraordinary times. I came across several books written by Damien Lewis about PDSA Dickin medal recipients and was hooked. He, and the PDSA kindly allowed me to use images as reference for my drawings.

Drawing sustains me. There is something rather wonderful about trying to describe everything from fur, fabric or flesh to blue skies or storm clouds with just a paper and pencil. Reading about these incredible animals and their humans has been fascinating, to say the least. Creating a backdrop that hints at why each animal was awarded the equivalent of the Victoria Cross or Purple Heart is often challenging, as the dogs look so beautiful on their own initially. I hope it helps pique the curiosity of the viewer.
I struggle to draw the dogs that died. It takes me so long to build up layer upon layer of graphite – imagining every muscle, and sinew, the strength of their stance or tiredness in their bones, what they felt like to hold close. I have come to love them as my own. It is comforting to know that some, lived out their days in peace. I always think of Judy, miraculously surviving 3 years in a Japanese POW camp in the Sumatran jungle, ending her days, with her devoted human, growing peanuts in
Tanzania. Bless.

I count myself lucky if I never have to:
– Offer up my dog to the war effort because there is no food to spare during times of war.
– Leave behind an animal that’s endured the horrors of war by my side.
– Grapple with the raw emotions of servicemen having to give back an animal to their pre-war family.
– See a dog injured from saving me.