Always Lost: A Meditation on War
- Components of the Exhibition
- Exhibition Schedule
- Mission Statement
- Photos and Poetry from the Exhibition
- Photos from the traveling exhibition
- Pulitzer Prize-winning photos
- Recent News
- Virtual Exhibition Brochure (with music)
Nevada Sesquicentennial Events
- 02/10/2016 - Exhibit Examines Cost of War
- 02/10/2016 - Always Lost at Boulder City Library
- 05/22/2015 - Jim Butler Days returns to Tonopah (PVT)
- 04/07/2015 - WNC exhibit on display at Legislature (Nevada Appeal)
- 03/25/2015 - Exhibit Highlighting The Cost Of War Returns To Nevada (KNPR)
- 03/19/2015 - WNC Exhibit returns to Nevada Legislature (Carson Now)
- 03/19/2015 - Always Lost returns to Nevada Legislature (Nevada Appeal)
- 08/27/2014 - Exhibit at Minden Inn through Sept. 12 (Carson Now)
- 08/24/2014 - Minden Inn to Host Exhibit (Nevada Appeal)
- 08/08/2014 - Disabled vets gather in Las Vegas (LVRJ - click photo for exhibit pictures)
- 08/06/2014 - Exhibit Coming to Minden (Nevada Appeal)
Always Lost Media
- KNPR Interview
- KUNR Interview
- Insight Radio Interview
- 09/10/2014 - Exhibit at Minden Inn (KOLO News 8)
- 01/15/14 - News report from WDIO in Duluth, MN
- Review of Always Lost
- 05/27/13 - Art Tribute to Fallen Soldiers (WAOW News)
- 04/18/13 - Always Lost exhibit - Nevada Legislature (KOLO News 8)
- 02/13/13 - The Story of Always Lost
- 01/14/13 - FOX6 News Story
- 09/15/10 - W-Bay News Story
- 07/08/10 - Bill Manders Interview
E-Scrapbook
- 11/25/2015 - Ridge Water Exhibit invites reflection on costs of war (Hutchinson Leader Local News)
- 09/14/2015 - Honoring those lost in Iraq and Afghanistan wars : a national traveling exhibition (Faribault Daily News)
- 12/03/2014 - Fresh Ideas, opinion column (Nevada Appeal)
- 11/14/2014 - NV Governor Brian Sandoval makes Always Lost proclamation
- 11/3/2014 - 'Always Lost' Display in Whipple Gallery (SMSU)
- 10/30/2014 - Honoring those lost in battle: a traveling exhibit (KUNR)
- 10/3/2014 - Carson City Board of Supervisors Recognize Always Lost (Nevada Appeal)
- 09/29/2014 - Decorated vet speaking at 'Always Lost' war exhibit (Fergus Falls Journal)
- 09/25/2014 - Carson City Supervisors Recognize Always Lost (CarsonNow)
- 05/26/2014 - Marin County Civic Center Exhibit Article
- 03/13/2014 - Nevada Appeal Opinion Article
- 02/10/2014 - Mesabi Range College Library blog
- 02/10/2014 - Mesabi Range College Library Photo Gallery
- 01/10/2014 - Always Lost travels to Virginia, MN
- 01/07/2014 - Visions of War
- 11/09/2013 - Article from Up North Art World
- 10/25/2013 - Article from University of Wisconsin, Barron County
- 06/03/13 - Article from the June WNC Administrative Services Newsletter
- 05/16/13 - UW Stevens Point - Taking a look at the Vision of War
- 05/16/13 - Always Lost photo exhibit to be displayed at UWMC
- 04/17/13 - Executive Director's comments: Opening Ceremony at the Nevada Legislature
- 04/17/13 - Mayor's comments: Opening Ceremony at the Nevada Legislature
- 01/14/13 - FOX6 Now
- 01/13/13 - Journal Sentinel Online
- 06/05/12 - North Tahoe Bonanza
- 06/01/12 - Daughters of the American Revolution
- 03/30/12 - Reno Gazette Journal
- 10/1/11 - E-Happenings Newsletter
- 08/06/11 - Commentary
- 07/13/11 - Nevada Appeal
- 11/04/10 - Nevada Appeal
- 09/22/10 - The Record-Courier
- 09/19/10 - Reno Gazette Journal
- 07/23/10 - Lahontan Valley News
- 07/14/10 - Nevada Appeal
- 05/15/10 - Nevada Appeal
Fundraising Effort
Videos
See videos about Always Lost: A Meditation on War:
- January 15, 2014
Always Lost Duluth MN - April 17, 2013
Always Lost News Spot - February 13, 2013
Always Lost tribute
Always Lost: A Meditation on War
The Beginning
In fall 2008, Western Nevada College sociology professor Don Carlson was stopped in his tracks by The New York Times' Roster of the Dead. "Four thousand faces of American military who had perished in Iraq stared at me," he said, "and I realized that this war has been perhaps one of the most impersonal wars ever fought."
He approached English professor Marilee Swirczek and they envisioned an art/humanities exhibition that would personalize the wars--Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom--through poems, prose and photographs. English instructor and retired Marine Major Kevin Burns selected the name for the exhibition from an observation by American writer Gertrude Stein: "War is never fatal but always lost. Always lost."
The Components
The heart of Always Lost is the Wall of the Dead: individual photographs with names of the nearly 7,000 U.S. military war casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan since Sept. 11, 2001. Throughout its years of travel, the Always Lost project team was committed to keeping the Wall of the Dead current in honor of those who gave their lives and those who made it home.
Always Lost includes the 2004 Pulitzer Prize-winning Iraq War combat photographs by David Leeson and Cheryl Diaz Meyer (courtesy of The Dallas Morning News) with literary work by Professor Swirczek's creative writing classes, veterans and their families, the Lone Mountain Writers group, and other Northern Nevada writers. Three Western Nevada College student-veterans were profiled through photographs and interviews to represent the thousands of men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Army SPC Noah C. Pierce, who died by suicide after serving two combat tours in Iraq, represents the tragedy of military suicides through his personal story and original poetry.
The Journey - 2010 to 2016
Installed at Western Nevada College, Carson City in spring 2009, the original exhibition generated an overwhelming response. One guest book comment read, "A national treasure." By word-of-mouth, the story of Always Lost began to spread, and inquiries came from across the country. The Nevada Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts, awarded WNC a grant to support the project and reformat it as a traveling exhibition. Always Lost made its national debut at the University of Wisconsin, Marinette in the fall of 2010 and through July 2016, was displayed at more than 50 colleges, universities, and veterans’ organizations throughout the United States.
U.S. Senators Harry Reid and Dean Heller signed a 2011 Congressional letter in support of Always Lost and presented the exhibit with letters of commendation. The Daughters of the American Revolution, John C. Fremont Chapter, recognized Professor Swirczek's stewardship of the exhibition with their 2012 Medal of Honor for Patriotism. Always Lost received congressional recognition from U.S. Congressman Mark Amodei and official proclamations from Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval; the Carson City, Nevada, Board of Supervisors; and the Washoe County, Nevada, Board of County Commissioners. Always Lost was selected as an official Nevada 150 Sesquicentennial exhibit by the NV150 Commission.
Always Lost: A Meditation on War was included in veterans outreach efforts across the nation. The Nevada Department of Veterans Services, with an intention to bridge the chasm between the civilian and military populations in Nevada, sponsored a two-year statewide tour of the exhibition as part of Nevada’s Sesquicentennial celebration. The Minnesota Humanities Center hosted 16-venue tour of Always Lost as a springboard for their statewide “Veterans’ Voices” program, which draws upon the power of the humanities to call attention to the stories and contributions of veterans. The Marin County Free Library displayed Always Lost as part of California’s statewide “Library Outreach to Veterans” program.
Always Lost evolved into a powerful meditation on the effect of war on each of us. It created a sacred space in which to contemplate the personal costs and collective sacrifice of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, and consequently, of all wars.
The Always Lost: A Meditation on War traveling exhibition concluded on July 29, 2016. Western Nevada College is hopeful that a permanent home will be found for Always Lost in the coming months. To make a financial contribution toward this effort, please contact the Western Nevada College Foundation at 775.445.3240 or www.wnc.edu/foundation.
Friends of the Project:
Musical score plays with the booklet and brochure. Turn speakers on for optimal experience.
For additional information, please contact:
Always Lost: A Meditation on War
Western Nevada College
Aspen Building 222
2201 West College Parkway
Carson City, NV 89703Phone: 775-445-4243
