VPP UPDATE

[Yvette]

Hi all... hope you all received my latest email. The date for the show
is now May 02 and I have extended your deadline to March 13. A couple
of people have expressed concerns during their composition phase. I
would like to clarify for those that may have questions.
1. This print does not have to be a storyboard for the entire oral
history you listened to. It can be inspired by a specific moment.
2. There is no right way to do this. If you need- go with a moment in
the story where you said, hmmm, that's interesting.
3. The only way to do anything wrong is to be disrespectful or
slanderous. When I say disrespectful, I mean painting this veteran in
a really bad light, or by making some political element out of this.
If the veteran you have has portrayed himself as such, let me know and
I will listen to the story and get back to you.

Let me just offer some perspective from a veteran point of view. I am
willing to share my oral history for the sake of documenting history.
I experienced some really crazy things, and the experiences I had may
not reflect the red white and blue God bless America that everyone
pictures heroes to portray. The reality is that most heros see
themselves as villains and hate what they had to do or experience to
do their job. But these guys were willing to share that experience and
that point of view. Be as respectful of that as you can. If you are
conflicted, produce the print that beckons your inspiration and we
will go from there. I cannot possibly ask you guys to draw daisies and
rainbows and call it war. War is war. But war, in my opinion, is
filled with passion, heart, tears, love, camaraderie, devotion,
endurance, and insanity. If you can capture just an essence of that,
then you are on the right track.

I am also sorry if your veteran has not responded to an email. They
seem to be a fairly private bunch.

Good luck and good printing!
Yvette.