| | Kelly Wright/The Lantern | | "Fallen," by Jane Hammond, is currently displayed at the Wexner Center and consists of 3994 leaves, each hand-cut and labeled with the name of a soldier who died in Iraq. |
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When Jane Hammond first showcased her project, it included 1,511 handmade leaves. There are now 3,994.
Aptly titled "Fallen," Hammond's leaves represent the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq. On exhibit at the Wexner Center until Aug. 3, each leaf has the name of a fallen soldier inscribed on it.
Hammond, a New York-based artist, is known for her paintings, photography and unique work on paper. Her work has been featured in exhibitions around the world.
"The idea came to me in a dream," Hammond said. "It was pretty much full blown, exactly as it is."
In the dream, she said she was walking in the woods in autumn. The ground was covered in a bed of leaves, and when she bent to look closer she noticed the name of a U.S. soldier killed in Iraq.
After the dream, Hammond said she jumped right in to figure out how to make the leaves look realistic and how to write the names.
Hammond began collecting leaves in 2004, recreating them with paper and using inkjet, acrylic paint and gouache to print a soldier's name on each one. It was first exhibited in New York in 2005.
"I first saw 'Fallen' last fall at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York," said Amanda Potter, educator for public and university programs at the Wexner. "Even in a room full of other works, it held your attention and drew everyone in."
Of all the pieces Hammond has created, she said she feels this one is the most accessible.
"I feel the basic metaphor of fallen leaves at the pinnacle of their beauty ... and the young lives cut short in the war is something that the most humble and uneducated person can grasp immediately," she said. "I don't feel like it needs much interpretation from me."
Although it is virtually impossible to read the news or watch television without being reminded of the loss of lives in Iraq, Potter said her exhibit makes it easier for people to comprehend the number in a way that simple statistics cannot provide.
"It can be difficult to wrap your head around a number like 3,994," she said. "But when you see the leaves spread out before you in a thick blanket, you begin to understand the size of the loss and in turn, how many more lives those losses have affected."
Hammond did emphasize that in order to get the full effect, people must take their time when viewing the exhibit.
"If you're in a hurry and don't stop to read the wall text and think about who the people are, I can't help you," she said. "But if a person comes in with an art time frame, reads the wall text and looks at it for a few minutes, they will understand what the piece is."
Potter said she hopes visitors can appreciate the piece regardless of their political views
"Whether you are for or against the war, you can understand and appreciate the metaphor of fallen leaves as a symbol for the lives of soldiers taken before their time," she said.
Viewers of the Wexner exhibit will feel a more personal, intimate connection with the tribute. For the first time, "Fallen" is in a room by itself, giving it a more personal, intimate connection to its audience.
"Nothing else distracts your attention and you are able to sit and contemplate the work and the immense loss that it commemorates," Potter said. "It is a beautiful and moving tribute."
One thing to realize is that the project is ongoing, Hammond said. According to the Department of Defense Web site, there have been about 4,075 U.S. casualties in Iraq. As the exhibit is shown, she will continue to create and add leaves to the platform.
"I'm doing it," she said. "But it's bigger than I am at the same time."
The Wexner Center galleries are open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Admission is free.
Kelly McDonald can be reached at mcdonald.345@osu.edu.
2008 Woodie Awards
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