Afterthoughts

Thomas (Tom) Morrissey (CW3, US Army) is a Veteran, visual/mixed multi-media artist, and writer who has always been sensitive to the exclusion of the many obvious linkages between the arts and (for lack of better words), Veterans. The "military experience," particularly since the Korean/Vietnam eras, has been marginalized at best, and throughout Tom's professional career, he has grown more and more sensitive to this fact, especially as we have now entered the eras of "Post Truth," and "Thank you for your service." His career in the arts began with his college photography professor instructing him to throw away the few thousand images he returned from the war with. "Guilt," he was told. Throughout his education (PhD, CAGS, MFA, MPA, BFA, AA), his Veteran status was never fully understood, much less beckoned. Decades later, he would learn that many (most) of his "academic heroes" like Peter Voulkos, Don Reitz, and others (yes, he was a ceramic sculpture major), were combat Veterans-a secret never discussed in the years following the fall of Saigon. What might he have done, had anyone mentioned this fact? Fortunately, Tom may still have a few good years in which to flourish. He has more to write.His professional career has been a multi-directional path. He often says that there are motorboats and sailboats in life. His experience was that of a sailboat; enjoying the various headings tacking in the wind brought him to. Since college, and during his academic career, he has had the honor of returning to Vietnam on several occasions, always alone as with his first visit. He has again left his mark there through a large outdoor marble sculpture installed in Hue (Second International Sculpture Symposium) and by teaching classes in art in Hanoi and Saigon as a Fulbright Scholar. His book, a seventeen-year photo essay, Between the Lines: Photographs from the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington DC, was published in 2000 by Syracuse University Press. Now, Professor Emeritus, he still keeps his hand in teaching, exhibiting, and blowing hot air.