Description

After 20 years of active-duty service Charles Burt retired from the Army but had a tough time adjusting to civilian culture. Seeking a way to connect with other disciplined and dedicated people, he met artists who shared his work ethic and a strong drive to succeed. From this spark, he started taking art courses at the local community college and completed five years of intensive fine art atelier training at Gage Academy of Art in Seattle. During his last two years of atelier training, Burt began a series of paintings titled Seven Army Values. These are invitations for civilians to find new ways of thinking about military service. After retiring from the Army, he developed a tremor in his dominant hand and was later diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Painting fine art pieces while battling a tremor is another challenge that he faces head-on. He hopes his art and his life story inspire other veterans to work toward their own goals even after they leave the supportive structures of the military. A public opening on November 23rd at 2pm will initiate this start of this exhibition. The artist, Charles Burt, will be in attendance. To attend, RSVP at Walking In My Shoes: A Perspective on Military Service | ColumbiaGorgeMuseum