The military is a field that is often correlated with war, heroism and bravery, as veterans go through events that the average person wouldn’t see or dare to do. The Veterans art exhibit “Fur, Feathers and Fidelity: Military Mascots,” hosted in the Roberta’s Art Gallery with contributions from UW-W Veteran Services and Wisconsin’s Veterans Museum, allows guests to see and read about a new perspective on a veteran and their furry companion.
The exhibit is a traveling exhibit from the Wisconsin Veterans Museum located in Madison. It features the stories of military mascots and the service they provided. Whether the mascot is a lion or a monkey, the story shows how impactful the furry companion was to their soldier. Some of the stories in the exhibit date back to the Civil War and show a new side of humanity within the frequently stigmatized military world.
“The importance of this gallery is to educate current students about the different branches of service and the mascots’ correlation to the soldiers of a specific branch,” Veterans Benefits Coordinator Amy Moore said.
She explained how the last collaboration the Veteran Services had with Roberta’s Art Gallery was back when they had “Stories of Service,” a 2022 exhibit about tattoos. Moore explains how she hopes visitors to the gallery learn more about soldiers and military members and their connection to their mascots.
“They are away from home, so they need to fill that empty void to have the comfort of their home,” Moore said. “Not all mascots are dogs and there is a huge variety of animals being represented.”
Many workers in the gallery are very excited for both students and the community to check out this special exhibit and learn these unique stories.
“My favorite aspect is the little frames on the walls that showcase stories and animal pictures,” graduate assistant Yingxin Lin said. “The stories are very cute, which is surprising since people associate the military with being serious or dangerous; it shows the humanity within the rough environment.”
She explains how they carefully rearranged the lighting to help bring the banners to life and catch visitors’ attention as soon as they step into the gallery.
“The importance of the exhibit is to have a deeper understanding of Veterans Day and honoring the legacy of soldiers who served for our country,” PR lead Caitlyn Dickman said.
She enjoys the different perspectives of the military, highlighting the animals that have served alongside soldiers.
“People should come check out the gallery because it’s a new exhibit that is free and can open the perspective to veterans,” Dickman said.
She enjoys the pictures on the gallery’s west wall that specifically shine light on the university’s veterans’ stories and honor what branch they served.
Roberta’s Art Gallery is hosting a reception for the exhibit on Veterans Day, starting at 9:45 a.m., with treats and coffee for all to enjoy as the university’s veterans share their own mascot experiences within their line of duty. This gallery is open from Nov. 10 to Dec. 4.
