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RODEO 2009: Air Force Art Program artists cover competition

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • RODEO 2009 Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  In the "mind's eye" of four artists visiting Air Mobility Rodeo 2009 here, they're seeing future art pieces that will highlight the international mobility air forces competition.

The four artists, all associated with the Air Force Art Program, have made the trek to McChord AFB to gather digital images, sketches and experience Air Force, Air Mobility Command and the unique international flavor of RODEO for future art pieces that will be part of the Air Force art collection.

Established in 1950, the Air Force Art Program has covered every major operation in which the service has been involved, said Mr. Russell Kirk, Air Force Art Program director who works for the Secretary of the Air Force administrative assistant's office at the Pentagon. The program currently has more than 250 active artists. The works accumulated over the past 59 years numbers in the hundreds.

"The way the program operates is we work with the Society of Illustrators of New York and Los Angeles as well as the Northwest, Southwest and Midwest Air Force Artists' Groups," Mr. Kirk said. "Each has a chairman who we coordinate trips with and schedule artists to travel. We also have a select group of artists who can be ready at short notice to travel and cover events such as Hurricane Katrina, Operation Iraqi Freedom or any other type of emergency deployment the Air Force is involved in. These artists are all volunteers and take time from their families and jobs to follow in our Airmen's footsteps and document our mission."

At RODEO 2009, the four artists are being escorted by AMC's coordinator for the Air Force Art Program, Mr. Jeffrey Michalke, who works in the AMC History office. He said they are getting a close-up view of RODEO competition.

"We've taken them to see the aeromedical evacuation competition and they've had close-up looks at the C-17 (Globemaster III) and the KC-135R Stratotanker," Mr. Michalke said. "They're also going to see everything that RODEO is about. We'll give them an overall view of not just the airplanes and the flying, but also the ground events where they can see aerial porters, maintenance Airmen and security forces in action."

Mr. Michalke said the artists bring a different perception to documenting events when compared to photography and videography.

"An artist's perception is unique in its own right," Mr. Michalke said. "We have four artists looking at the competition, but what they'll come up with will be four totally different and unique paintings. From what I've seen in the art program, these artists find creative ways to include Air Force heritage and the action they see. The end products are incredible."

Artist Jerry Moore, an illustrative artist from Vancouver, Wash., is among the artists visiting RODEO 2009. He's been active in the Air Force Art Program for nearly 30 years and covered RODEO 2007. He said he loves supporting the program and anticipates getting a plethora of great documentation from this year's competition.

"I enjoy coming out to McChord - it's one of my favorite air bases," Mr. Moore said. "I enjoy coming out to RODEO because I get to see a lot of different aircraft from different bases and countries. I also get to meet a lot of great people - it's a great experience."

In documenting the RODEO action through art, Mr. Moore said it's another way for him to serve.

"It's a source of pride for me to support the Air Force even though I'm no longer in uniform," the veteran said. "As long as I can support the program and carry a brush, I'm more than happy to do it."

Artist Karen Chandler, an oil painter from South Salem, N.Y., has been in the Air Force Art Program for more than 23 years. She, along with two others, are covering RODEO for the first time. She said she hopes to gather the right mix of supporting documentation to create a "really great painting."

"What the end painting will be right now I don't know," Ms. Chandler said. "But actually, that's the interesting aspect about coming to RODEO. We come in here without any preconceived notions of what to expect. We're able to see things we've never seen before and the result is a really great painting from our experience."

Artist Jack Lutzow of San Francisco, who called himself the "renegade" among the artists because he paints in watercolors, said his RODEO experience is giving him a chance to explore ideas to create new ways to look at the Air Force through his craft.

"I look for the 'dramatic' in the various activities we are seeing, and the romanticism," Mr. Lutzow said. "I try to find those unique moments that I can use for interpretation in my paintings. I want to capture the emotion of the moment and the discipline which our fine military members bring to their activities." 

For artist Phillip Renaud of Chicago, who has been in the Air Force Art Program for 29 years, his first RODEO experience will definitely result in "something special."

"The aircraft are incredible, but I know the Air Force also wants us to represent people through the art," Mr. Renaud said. "That's one area I know I'll be looking at during my visit here. I know it's the people who make the Air Force turn and they will certainly be represented in my work."

Mr. Michalke added, "I can't wait to see what they will produce when this experience is over and done with. I know this group is as talented as they come and will tell the Air Force, AMC and RODEO story for others to enjoy for years to come."