Exhibit lines up toy soldiers as commentary on real warriors

By Frank Roberts

EDENTON

There are 3,913 "dead" soldiers on the floor of the Chowan Arts Council.

They are part of the creation of Joe Burns, a 27-year-old Washington, N.C., art teacher.

Most of the small toy soldiers, in different poses representing combat positions, sit on a board atop a yellow outline of the United States because, the artist explained, "yellow ribbons are used in support of our troops."

It took about six hours to set up the soldiers, which are lined up to form the word "DEAD." The 3,913 figures represent the number of service members who died in Iraq from March 20, 2003, up to the time of his creation, he said.

Some of the "troops" are off the board, creating a comma, which indicates "a pause in the action," said Betsy W. Rhodes, interim director of the Arts Council.

"The work is neutral," Burns said. "It states a fact and even embraces patriotism."

Rhodes tells of one veteran who saw the exhibit. "He said, 'I don't like it, but that's why I fought and spilled my blood - so that a guy can say what he said. And I can say what I want to say about it.' "

The artwork provoked discussion even before it was set up, Burns said.

The Arts Council Board talked over the exhibit. "They quibbled. They wanted disclaimers," Burns said. "Finally, they realized this is an artistic expression - freedom of speech."

The exhibit "did spark some controversy," said Chris Ford, Arts Council president, adding that he was "questioned by some members of the community" about whether it was appropriate for the gallery.

"Everyone on the board was in agreement without reservation that it was," he said. "It is not our place to pass judgment on the content and it is certainly not our place to act as censors."

Rhodes said the display "was well handled by the artist, our board and by our staff."

The artist, a native of St. Louis, is a graduate of the University of Missouri, where he studied painting and contemporary art. Not all of his artwork looks like this, Burns said. "I also do a lot of painting. I don't want to be narrow," he said.

He teaches art at P.S. Jones Middle School in Washington, N.C. Eventually, he said, "I want to go to New York and die in Paris."

In Edenton, he is busy with the first display of his latest creation. "I'd like to get it to my hometown of St. Louis and to D.C.," he said. "And I'm considering taking it outdoors. I'll stay with it as long as people want to see it."

He spent many days collecting materials, buying 81 bags of the soldiers from Dollar Tree stores in northeastern North Carolina.

"I take no stances for or against the war," Burns said. "I really try to remain neutral. You react the way you want to."

Work by other Inner Banks artists can also be seen at the gallery.

The exhibit, which opened Jan. 11, brought in an opening-night crowd of about 200.

"We usually have 50 to 75," Rhodes said.

Ford said the display has been "well received and has stimulated lively discussions."