Active Hands: Craft by Soldiers features rare treasures made by soldiers on active duty, as well as historic documentation of the Army Arts and Crafts Program, which has allowed thousands of soldiers and their families to find respite in the handmade since World War II. As part of Craft in America’s ongoing exploration of the connections between craft and the military, this exhibition highlights the inclination to create as a means of surviving, communicating and maintaining health of spirit. These selected objects provide a glimpse into the untold and inspiring chapters of the American military experience.
Anthony F. Bespalec Jr., Salt, Pepper and Toothpick Bar Set, 1944Anthony F. Bespalec Jr., Salt, Pepper and Toothpick Bar Set, 1944Vincent J. Schifano, Heart (l). Christine Bespalec-Davis, Resin hearts with a mercury head dime floating inside; bullet casings turned into S+P shakerJim Cohen, Asaret-ha’divarot Torah BreastplateJim Cohen, Five Books Torah BreastplateJim Cohen, Five Books Torah BreastplateJerome S. Gottschalk, Instructor in the US Army Crafts Division based in Germany, 1962-1964, Original Photographs and EphemeraJerome S. Gottschalk, Instructor in the US Army Crafts Division based in Germany, 1962-1964, Original Photographs and EphemeraJerome S. Gottschalk, Instructor in the US Army Crafts Division based in Germany, 1962-1964, Original Photographs and EphemeraJerome S. Gottschalk, Instructor in the US Army Crafts Division based in Germany, 1962-1964, Original Photographs and EphemeraJerome S. Gottschalk, Instructor in the US Army Crafts Division based in Germany, 1962-1964, Original Photographs and EphemeraJerome S. Gottschalk, Instructor in the US Army Crafts Division based in Germany, 1962-1964, Original Photographs and EphemeraJerome S. Gottschalk, Instructor in the US Army Crafts Division based in Germany, 1962-1964, Original Photographs and EphemeraJerome S. Gottschalk, Instructor in the US Army Crafts Division based in Germany, 1962-1964, Original Photographs and EphemeraKnives made by WWII sailorsKen Goldman, Five Amulets, 1995-1999. While Goldman was on Reserve duty in the Israeli army, he carved these amulet forms, many of which have traditional Jewish symbolism. He hung them from string made of bags for apples. He has continued to make amulets for his children to carry while they are in the military.Jim Cohen, Holocaust Torah BreastplateJim CohenJim CohenJim CohenJim Cohen, Shalom YadJim Cohen, Twelve Tribes Kiddush CupJim Cohen, Wall Menorah (l), Large Building Block Kiddush Cup (r)Milton Hing, “B-29” , c. 1945Victor Di Novi, Chess Set, 1967Victor Di Novi, Chess Set, 1967. Hand carved from local wood, Vietnam, Cameron Bay.
Before becoming a professional woodworker and cabinetmaker, Di Novi served as an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Vietnam from 1967- 1968. In order to clear fields for construction, it was common practice for the army to use explosives to fell the trees. The fallen trees were an endless supply of materials with which Di Novi could practice his craft. He carved this chess set by hand and made boards out of any materials that he could find, including cardboard and paper. It helped him and his friends pass the time as they built projects in various parts of the country.
In 1971, he moved to California where he has been a furniture maker ever since.
“Personally, the act of creation is as important to me as the object created. Each one gives me the confidence and the wherewithal to do the next one, and the next one is always the best one.”
