The Pritzker Military Library is honored to host the 2008 Midwest Air Force Artists Exhibition. Created by 17 artists, these 35 original works are being shown prior to their accession into the permanent art collection of the U.S. Air Force later this fall.

MISSION: ART
Seeking to best match the artist and assignment, each artist is selected to participate in a "mission" based on their preference, technique, and temperament. These missions often provide for two or more artists, resulting in a wide variety of technological and figurative works. Each artist in the program receives official orders from the Secretary of the Air Force, which accords the artists all courtesies and privileges as a senior Air Force civilian employee or officer, while visiting Air Force installations or units.

All work created is donated by each artist to the Air Force without any permissible tax deductions. The Art Program supports the artists' freedom to create any work based on assignments or historical reference. Before framing and submission, the art is reviewed and juried by the respective associations and participating organizations.

ARTISTIC DOCUMENTATION
The USAF Art Program and the beginning of its extensive collection of aviation art began in 1947 with the transfer from the U.S. Army of some 800 works of art documenting the early days of the Army Air Corps. That art documented its evolution from Signal Corps, Army Air Service and Army Air Corps into the United States Air Force. Recognizing the historical and morale enhancement value of such works, and to provide artists guidance for future additions to the collection, the Air Force established a formal art program.

For more than fifty years, the Air Force has sent artists worldwide to observe and record U.S. Airmen in the line of duty. The images of men, women and equipment are captured in oil, watercolor, and other mediums performing humanitarian service, operational training, security, combat maneuvers and other important tasks. Today, there are nearly 9,000 works in the Air Force Art Program.