Beauty From the Battlefield: Trench Art

In conjunction with the Main Gallery exhibition OVER THERE: REMEMBERING THE GREAT WAR, the John Streetman Alcove will feature a September 10 – December 31, 2017 exhibition of trench art on loan from the Indiana Military History Museum in Terre Haute. The term “trench art” is usually associated with World War I, when soldiers passed the time when not in combat by collecting and fashioning spent armaments into decorative objects. Often displaying remarkable metalworking skill and a high level of artistry, these objects of art range from utilitarian items to small pieces of sculpture.

Faced with a constant battle against boredom and isolation, prisoners of war produced trench art as did a civilian population who, despite the danger, would collect battlefield debris to transform into souvenirs for soldiers. Included in this exhibition are examples of trench art from both World Wars.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.