The Things They Carried: World War II Trench Art March 27, 2010

In the wake of World War II extraordinary works of art were created from metal and scrap detritus that carry with them both meaning and memory. The Things They Carried: World War II Trench Art is an exhibition that offers something tangible to the investigation of the human spirit during times of war. Expended artillery shell casing, bullets, shrapnel, ship, tank and aircraft parts are transformed into emotionally charged souvenirs. Objects such as delicately engraved artillery-shell casings; ashtrays, jewelry, sugar scoops, model planes and personalized cigarette cases and lighters tell of life and death experiences with tactile immediacy. For many serving on the war front, objects were created during stays in the hospital, prisoner camps, or in the trenches, recording their experiences with artful craftsmanship. The Things They Carried: World War II Trench Art opens in the Parker Gallery March 27th and will be on view through June 4, 2010. A Free reception for the exhibition will be on May 1st from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. This exhibition is sponsored by the Oceanside Public Library and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Oceanside Museum of Art is located at 704 Pier View Way in downtown Oceanside, within walking distance from the Oceanside Transit Center with Amtrak, Coaster, Sprinter and Metrolink stops. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. General admission is $8, $5 for seniors and free for students, military and their dependants. The museum Web site offers photo galleries of recent exhibitions as well as a calendar of coming events, www.oma-online.org.

Official Website: http://oma-online.org