Archivesdraftee
What to remember: Reflections on Memorial Day 2021 - by Judith Thompson
Unquestionably war has touched us all. Every single person, no matter who they are or where they live, has been touched by war. Scars from the traumas of war are passed down throughout generations and layered with new scars as the self-perpetuating cycles of war and violence continue to be fueled partly by the unhealed… Continue reading
Different kinds of war: Reflections on Memorial Day 2020 - by Judith Thompson
As I looked through Harold’s Draftee series for some appropriate photographs to share on this 2020 Memorial Day observance, the irony of the one above did not escape me. This GI is getting inoculated in both arms as a way to prepare for the war overseas. Harold went off to Korea in 1952. Approximately 35,000… Continue reading
The road into the unknown: A post-election Veteran’s Day reflection - by Judith Thompson
Ever since receiving Erik’s email about his reflections on this photograph, I knew I would post it on Veteran’s Day. However, I had not anticipated the post-election context within which we would find ourselves on this day. I firmly believed we would be transitioning toward the first woman President who, while not perfect or uncomplicated,… Continue reading
“If this isn’t love, then maybe I’m crazy!” Happy Valentine’s Day 2016! - by Judith Thompson
One of Harold’s favorite expressions was, “If this isn’t love, then maybe I’m crazy!” He often sang the words with a catchy tune. I later discovered that the song was from the Broadway musical Finian’s Rainbow. The original lyrics said: “If this isn’t love, the whole world is crazy”, but Harold’s adaptation was definitely truer… Continue reading
Thoughts of war on Veteran’s Day - by Harold Feinstein
If some things don’t make you crazy, then you aren’t very sane to begin with” Steven Bentley, Vietnam Veterans of America Today is Veteran’s Day and I salute all those men and women who have risked their lives in the various military pursuits throughout our country’s history. I am one of them. I was drafted… Continue reading
Veteran’s Day, the U.S. Postal Service and me - by Harold Feinstein
I love art for the people! In a recent blog, I shared how Turkey’s Radyo Acik requested the use of my photograph Coney Island Boardwalk Montage (1950) to brand their Music of the People campaign. I’m happy about that and look forward to receiving one of their posters in the mail! But perhaps the ultimate… Continue reading
A Soldier’s Valentine: Bidding Farewell at Camp Kilmer, 1952 - by Harold Feinstein
While Valentine’s Day seems to be just another opportunity for card companies to cash in on mass produced emotions, I was surprised to find out that the original St. Valetine (Valentinus) was persecuted and killed under the Roman Emperor Claudius II for the heinous crime of performing clandestine weddings for soldiers, who were forbidden to… Continue reading
Draftee in Photobooth, 1952 - by Harold Feinstein
What will they think of next? A friend brought it to my attention yesterday that a photo of mine has gone viral… only it’s not the original photo, it’s a photoshopped version that appeared in the Huffington Post. Some clever person has made this unsuspecting GI disappear into thin air (maybe that’s why we don’t… Continue reading
“Grunts: The GI Experience” opens at Panopticon Gallery highlighting Feinstein’s Korea War photographs - by Judith Thompson
Appropriately opened on the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Panopticon Gallery‘s current show, entitled Grunts, consists of 44 wartime photos. Half of them come from Feinstein’s portfolio of Korean War photos. Curated by Jim Fitts, the show also included photographs from Robert Capa and the ACME photo press agency. Two Boston reviewers… Continue reading