Badge of Honor: Artist Talk and Reception

Kennedy Heights Arts Center, in partnership with PAR-Projects, presents Badge of Honor — an exhibition addressing cultural themes and often overlooked moments surrounding domestic and international conflicts, featuring photography and sculptural installations by Francis Hollenkamp (Cincinnati), Mike James (Cincinnati), and Raymond Thompson (Morgantown, WV). Curated by Jonathan Sears.

The three artists and curator will speak about their work from 5:00 to 6:30pm, followed by a reception until 9:00pm.

In photos selected for this exhibition, Mike James is able to present rarely seen vantage points. His work, captured during tours of duty in both Iraq and Afghanistan, gives us a different look of these war-torn areas. While stationed abroad, he took it upon himself to explore his new found communities and interact with cultures in ways that the American public rarely gets a glimpse of.

Raymond Thompson’s work stems from an overarching narrative of social justice, in addition to our country’s overly-complex — and often overly aggressive — prison system and the affects both have on our nation’s youth. While not heavy handed, stories from within his imagery are poignant and relatable to a large segment of our population.

Francis Hollenkamp rounds out the group with a more conceptual take on our unseen realities. Literally by the thousands, his arrangements of toy soldiers drum up thoughts of “strength in numbers” and “the power of organization.” Still, because the size of an individual toy soldier pales in comparison to the human form, his work is also associated with feelings of vulnerability and defenselessness.

When this exhibition is woven together, the hope is that viewers will find an appreciation for the emotions these artists are able to bring forward. Conversation is encouraged.