Join me for an exploration of sketchbooks that investigate and record war and its effects. Fascinating stuff!
- G.I. Sketch Book by Aimee Crane
- Ronald Searle by Russell Davies
- Bombed London by Hanslip Fletcher
- September 11, 2001 by Veronica Lawlor
- Baghdad Journal: An Artist in Occupied Iraq by Steve Mumford
Danny Gregory 
oops – there doesn’t appear to be a link to the video 😏
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Sorry! Fixed it.
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Well Danny, you’ve done it again. Thank you so much for this wonderfully informative sketchbook history information. I had no idea how potentially important my little sketchbook with its thoughts and sometimes odd notes and drawing may be to my family….and even to me to look back! Your life has been and is so FULL of thoughtful, interesting and relevant events — of things I never knew existed or thought about. I sometimes wonder how you, at a very early age, because aware of such important and inspirational information. Thank you so much for expanding what I now understand and have become aware of.
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What powerful records of terrible times and places! The first book included a sketch of the Aleutians, where my father spent almost 4 years in charge of a radar station. I’ve read some of his letters to my mother, but that sketch by Pleissner captured the place in a way words couldn’t. Thank you, Danny, for sharing these. I am going to try to find that GI sketchbook to share with my mother.
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Dear Danny,
This is anissue of much interest to me for a number of reasons. I’m the daughter of a WW2 bomber pilot. He worked for the forces after the war as a public relations officer and he was always interested in thevarious depictions of combat. My daddio was an artist himself after he retired as a general. The Canadian armforces had a war artist program in both of the world wars which not only gave this country some amazing art but also happened to support many scrawny hungry artists who went on to become major Canadian artists – Arthur Lismer, Alex Colville, Lawren Harris (Group of Seven), Frederick Varley (Group of Seven), Miller Britain, Peggy Nicol McLeod and the two that captured my heart and imagination – Molly Lamb Bobak and Bruno Bobak. These last two were the inspiration for a play that I co-wrote with my artist pal, Malcolm Callaway that is called Fields of Crimson (sometimes known as The Art of War). Malcolm did the art work featured in the play, as well as co-writing. His wife (also an artist) wrote the music. We’ve worked on a number of productions together, but this one was very close to our hearts, as all of our fathers had served.
So thank you for tackling a difficult and tremendously important issue. As artists we must be true to our values and although not all of us are required to depict the lowest moments of our humanity, to do so with unwavering truth is so important. The artists and poets must depict their versions of the world if we are ever to transcend our darkest hours.
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Enjoyed this presentation Danny. I bought Veronica Lawlor’s “9-11” during her first klass. My admiration for her devotion to her craft crystallized the first time I read it; and has continued throughout SBS and her other books. I also treasure the ever widening scope and depth of your work and SBS.
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Danny, I think your opening thoughts and ending thoughts distilled the whole purpose of what my sketchbook could be. I think it can be intimidating to see all the great work others are cranking out, but you personalized it, brought me back to the beginning. Thank you.
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