Honour
Earlier this fall, I had the honour to create a helmet design in support of the upcoming True Patriot Love Foundation Annual Tribute Gala. At this event, helmets creatively altered by Canadian artists and, I believe, celebrities, are auctioned off to raise funds for the foundation’s programming.
As a mother of two sons with military experience, I was thrilled that my polar bear art could be contribute in some way to this valuable foundation.
Here is what the True Patriot Love Foundation, has done so far (from their website TruePatriotLove.com) -
Since 2009, we have committed $28.3 million to fund innovative research and support 825 community-based programs across the country. By addressing the unique challenges resulting from military service including mental health, physical rehabilitation, transitioning to civilian life, and the special needs of children, TPL has helped change the lives of more than 30,000 military families.
Strength
I can tell you, in 2011, it wasn’t easy for my son to return home after an extended tour of duty, to a suburban community, that, to our family, seemed to have a real disconnect to the fact that Canada was at war. Someone (an adult!) actually asked my son, who had spent almost a year in forward operating bases, What do you do? March in parades?
So when I read why the foundation exists, my heart ached anew for these men and women who deserve our remembrance, gratitude, and support.
…, it is often the support they receive when they return home that is even more critical. Many of our soldiers are returning to a society that is ill-equipped to support them – a society that will never truly understand the stress of service and the atrocities of a war zone, nor the long-lasting impact on their families. -True Patriot Love Foundation
Polar Bears
When the foundation’s replica hemet arrived at my studio door, I was nervous about what to paint. It was only a plastic helmet, but, I wanted it to be…worthy.
And since polar bear art, is officially now my thing, I felt I should connect the polar bear and its journey somehow to that of the soldier.
It turned out to be easier than I thought, partially due to my privilege & insight gained by being a vet’s mom. Here’s the artist statement I came up with-
In my acrylic helmet painting Strength and Honour, an intelligent, beautiful polar bear stares out from the helmet face. It’s an appealing bear, but there is a reminder to beware, it does have teeth.
To the left side of the helmet, is a group of red poppy badges, a symbol of the honour we owe our veterans, by remembering. Red poppy flowers and their buds, which symbolizes the living honour of the soldiers, grace the right side of the helmet. A chrome metal band circles the helmet, representing the soldiers’ “mettle” and the polar bear’s sea ice life line. The realistic painting of a red sugar maple leaf on the back of the helmet speaks to our Canadian connection.
The polar bear and the brave men and women of the armed forces share a lot in common. They are both strong, brave, and resilient. Hard work, long travels, patience, persistence, courage, and stamina are all part of a soldier’s and polar bear’s life. Both certainly live by the phrase hurry up and wait ( the bears for the sea ice to form). Both are integral to the Canadian identity (60 - 80% of polar bears live in Canada), and yet few Canadians cross their paths.
And yet, the status of the polar bear, our bear, is vulnerable, due to inaction. The status of the Canadian veteran, our veteran, should never be so. A polar bear’s journey may be a solitary one, but a veteran’s should never be. Polar bears, military, citizens, we are all connected and duty bound to help, strength and honour, not optional.
Remembrance. Please Show it with support.
The gala is November 7, 2019 in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre https://truepatriotlove.com/get-involved/events-educational-trips/11th-annual-tribute-gala/
If a gala is not your thing, yet you would like to donate to this worthy cause, here are some other ways you can donate https://truepatriotlove.com/get-involved/ways-to-donate/
Strength and Honour (Detail ) Polar bear face. Helmet art. ©Christine Montague Acrylic paint, chrome marker. ChristineMontague.com
Strength and Honour. Right side. Red Poppies. Privet Romeo, award-winning military portrait painting (6’ x 3”) ©Christine Montague in background. ChristineMontague.com
Strength and Honour. Helmet art. Right side. Red Poppies. ©Christine Montague ChristineMontague.com
Strength and Honour. Helmet art. Left side. Red Poppy badges sold by veterans on Remembrance Day. Chrome details on pins. ©Christine Montague Polar bear oil painting (24” x 24”) in background is apropos “Looking Back, Moving Forward”. ChristineMontague.com
Strength and Honour. Helmet art. Back. Red Maple Leaf. ©Christine Montague ChristineMontague.com