Iraq Names Project and Nancy Hiss Win Award

The popular public radio show, E-Town, has presented Nancy Hiss with an E-Chievement Award. The award is in recognition of her work with the Iraq Names Project, using public art to bring awareness to the war in Iraq.

No Chalking August 3rd and 10th

Nancy will be out of town for the next 2 Mondays.

When she returns, August 17th, she will resume the Monday morning 9am-10am schedule.

Memorial Day Peace

On Memorial Day 2009, Nancy Hiss wanted to join the Veterans For Peace and draw at Peace Memorial Park, which the VfP maintain.
The Veterans gathered at Memorial Coliseum and walked to  Peace Park. Nancy had drawn the word ‘peace’ in many different languages around the planted peace symbol. Each language represented a nation that has been in conflict with the USA.

English

Sioux

Nez Perce

Arabic

French

Persian

Pustu

Pashto sorry overexposed

Serbo Croatian

Somalia

Arabic

Vietnamese

Vietnamese

Korean

Italian

Japanese

Russian

German

Hatian Creole

Filipino

Tagalog

Spanish

Lakota

Two years ago, Nancy spent a long day drawing names. She had planned to bypass Peace Park, but a video shoot forced her to change direction. In one of those coincidences that often occur during this project, she ended up at Peace Park. The next to last name that day was Casey Shannon. The names are drawn chronologically. His name fittingly, fell right at Peace Park. Every year ever since Nancy has drawn the name Sheehan at Peace Park on Memorial Day. This year, after she had already completed drawing the name, one of the Veterans For Peace organizers informed Nancy that Casey’s mom, Cindy Sheehan, would be talking there later in the day.

Casey Sheehan

Oregon National Guard

I want to thank the Oregonian for running a very good article on the deployment of 2,600 (2,600!) members of the Oregon National Guard in the Sunday May 3rd issue. Not only did Julie Sullivan write a nice article about the largest deployment since World War II, but they included photos of 200 soldiers along with thier names, age, hometown and civilian jobs.

It’s was refreshing to see Guard members individually recognized while they are still living.

It was also humanizing to see their faces, ages, hometowns and jobs.

They did not do as good a job with thier on line site, but you can see the photos here. A version of the article is here.

Remembering Christian Humphreys

Christian Humphreys was 28 years old when he died November 15th 2008. From Alamogordo New Mexico he had many friends in Nevada and Alaska where he was stationed.  Christian served first in the Navy, then in the Army, doing helicopter Search and Rescue when he was stationed in the States.  He died just shy of his 4th wedding anniversary, a friend to many he is missed.

Memorial

Many people have commented how the Iraq Names Project reminds them of Maya Lin’s Viet Nam Memorial. When people see the names it personalizes the war. There is a realization that these are not abstract heroes fighting far away, these are our neighbors, the kid down the street, firefighters, teachers and clerks.

Last month the Iraq Names Project was next to the granite wall at the Bonneville Power Administration building making the connection to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in DC even stronger.

Here is a page of links to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Please visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial if you get a chance.

Schedule Update

Nancy will be chalking every weekday morning weather permitting.
7:15am is when she tries to start.

The Iraq Names Project is currently On NE Holladay St Below NE 9th Ave heading toward NE 7th Ave.

The Carousel Court Yard Block, where the project is now, and the Liberty Centre in the next block, are owned by Ashforth Pacific. We talked to Ashforth Pacific before starting on the public sidewalk in front of their buildings. They assured us they supported the project. So we were surprised to see them hose off the sidewalk shortly after we left.

If you would like to talk to Ashforth Pacific call them at, 503-233-4048,
write them at:
825 NE Multnomah Street, Suite 1275
Portland, OR 97232
Email them at, wlange@ashforthpacific.com

Thanksgiving Day Chalking Schedule

Nancy will take a short break from the fun of Thanksgiving Day to remember those who are not celebrating.

Please join her and help her write the names of those who have died.

She is currently on the Carousel Courtyard block, NE Holiday between NE 7th & 9th streets.

She will be chalking between Noon and 1pm.

Remembrance

Kevin H. Sonnenberg of McClure Ohio was 42 when he died. Kevin was a pilot and a farmer, a son and a father, a brother and a husband. The small town of McClure Ohio drew together to morn the loss of a good man. He was remembered for being a hard worker on the farm and for ”tipping his wings” when he would fly his fighter jet over his parents house. 42, of McClure, OhioKevin H.

Remembrance

Dominic Nathaniel Rodriguez of Klamath Falls was 23 when he died June 22nd 2007. On the Oregonlive web site his son Austin wrote, “dom was my dad he was a man that put famly first if i rember playing foot ball his favorite sport it hert but it was fun he always had a smile he was the best dad a kid could ask for dom loved his daughter alli thay had fun all day he loved sports a loving man ho did all that he could to help a person in need he is a saint all i know he loved as mutch as he could”.

Blake Stephens Return With Honor

Nancy started drawing the names of soldiers who had died in Iraq on Memorial Day 2007. About a week later she received a card from a woman who asked her if she would be chalking the name of her brother, Sgt Blake Stephens. “I’m not sure if your project will get to #3,400+… but he would be honored to be named with other heroes from this war.” This Sunday, just 8 blocks from his sister’s house Nancy drew the name Blake Stephens. Later that day, Blake’s sister, 2 nephews and his mother (visiting from Idaho) filled in the chalk outline. Monday’s rain washed all that away, but Wednesday Nancy will redraw the name. We are hoping for a week of dry weather so people can stop by NE 33rd by Grant park and pay their respects.

Blake Stephens loved the military, his wife and his family. Blake met his wife, Erin, when they were based at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. She was serving in the Air Force and he the National Guard. Erin had been to Iraq 3 times when Blake decided to he needed to go to Iraq and signed up with the Army. She had a hard time supporting his decision, but understood that it was something he had to do.

He is missed every day, but never forgotten. 

Recognition

Nancy has won a Creative Scholarship from the Interior Design Educators Council. She has been asked to give a presentation about the Iraq Names Project at the IDEC International Conference in Montreal in March.

Closer to home, she will present the project to the Grant High School Human Rights Club on December 18th. Then she will present at the Portland Community College Art Beat Week in May 2008.

 If you would like Nancy to talk about the Iraq Names Project and give a slide presentation to your organization send me an email. dan.namesproject at gmail.com.