Depicting the Invisible: A portrait series of veterans suffering from PTSD.
Opening at the HG Contemporary Gallery November 9th, 2018
Susan J. Barron’s beautiful and powerful 6x6ft mixed media depictions on canvas are achieved
through photographic imagery, paint and text. Unflinchingly the veterans make direct eye contact
with us. Incorporated into these photographic portraits are the veteran’s own stories in their own
words. In these works, they give voice to their experience, their reality, their world.
The elegance of the images confronts the brutality of the stories.
Barron’s ultimate mission is not one of simplistic deification, but one of truthful illumination.
This body of work is intended not only give voice to these warriors’ harrowing, shocking, and
often hopeful stories, but to create a dialogue and community around the difficult issue of PTSD.
The mission is to depict the invisible scars of war. The mission is to show these brave individuals
they are not alone. The mission is to end their isolation and depict them as the hero’s they are.
There will be a private gallery reception for veterans who graciously participated in the portrait
series on Veterans Day, 2018.
A limited edition art book has been published of the portrait series Depicting the Invisible.
All proceeds from the sale of this book will go to Freedom Fighters Outdoors, an organization helping veterans with PTSD.
This edition of only 100 books will be available at the HG Contemporary Gallery throughout the duration of the exhibition from Nov 9-26 for $150. Twenty of these books will be signed by the veterans themselves who participated in this portrait series. These special books are available for $1000 each and there are still some available. Those purchasing these signed books will be invited to meet the veterans themselves at a reception to be hosted by HG Contemporary on November 12th.
It is Ms. Barron’s great hope that the veterans who generously participated in this project will find the telling of their stories cathartic, and feel they are making a difference by giving back.
“My intention is to bring awareness to the issues of PTSD and to depict our veterans as the
incredible heroes they are. Twenty-two veterans commit suicide every day in our country. The
invisible wounds of war are just as devastating as the visible ones. My mission is to bring
awareness to the PTSD epidemic and provide a platform for veterans to share their stories, and
to help create a vehicle for support and change.”
-Susan J. Barron
About Susan J. Barron
Susan J. Barron is an exceptionally diverse, multi-award-winning artist whose work has been
collected and commissioned across the country. Whether working with oil on canvas,
photography, or incorporating sculpture and collage elements, Barron’s work bravely and
beautifully challenges viewers preconceptions.