Attention to detail captures conflict, heroism
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff Writer
At the heart of Carl Anders’ artwork are the details.
A painter since he was a child, Anders lived in California until 2008. After the death of his wife, his daughter urged him to move to Burlington.
A Vietnam veteran, Anders joined Veterans of Foreign War Anderson Murphy Post 2823 – and began contemplating how to use his art to convey an important message.
“I wanted to come up with an idea of all the wars, and get a point across – what we’ve been through,” said Anders, 71.
And so, three and a half years ago, he purchased a canvas to capture his vision. With meticulous and pain-staking detail, Anders’ tribute to the four main branches of the military and their vets is now finished.
Once a display case is built, it will be on permanent display on the lower level of Veterans Terrace. But with Memorial Day on Monday, Anders hopes visitors for the parade and to ChocolateFest will be able to view it as well.
Anders and incoming VFW 2823 commander Scott Bourassa hope to have the oil painting on display at the gazebo in Echo Park following the parade. A guard will be posted to protect the piece.
In looking at Anders’ creation, it’s hard not to reach for the canvas. Badges are painted in such shadow and detail that they look real, as if Anders had created a collage instead of a painting.
Familiar scenes – from Iwo Jima to the minutemen of the Revolutionary War to the twin towers destroyed on 9-11 – dot the landscape.
But central to the piece are two ghostly images – the Vietnam Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
In Anders’ rendering, three soldiers blend in with the actual memorial, giving the impression that they are ghosts.
Similar imagery, though with less definition, mark the tomb.
Bourassa says that while laymen will appreciate the work, veterans will be able to see themselves in the portrait.
“The veterans that look at it understand everything Carl’s put into it,” he explained. “It’s definitely a tribute, and a keepsake for all the veterans.
“To be able to look at this painting and the depth and the time that was put into making it and the centuries it goes back, it’s a great tribute,” Bourassa added.
Anders, who also hand paints the poppies on each of the crosses placed in Echo Park each Memorial Day weekend, just wants veterans to know they are remembered.
“To show not only the public, but veterans what we’ve gone through,” he said.
That is no more evident than the last piece of artwork, placed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Anders’ work – that of the POW/MIA banner.
“You Are Not Forgotten.”
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