"Stalemate"
Mary N. Hurwitz

Attleboro Arts Museum
Focus on the Past Invitational: A nod to the United States 250th Anniversary
Inspired by Vietnam Veterans Memorial by Barbara Corrigan Permanent Collection

This artwork is meant to have an emotional impact on the viewer. It focuses on one of the darkest periods in American History. It is a reminder to learn from our past and not repeat it. And to reflect, respect and honor those who sacrificed their lives by serving our country under brutal conditions that spanned 20 years.
59,281 soldiers were killed. 39,996 were 22 years old and younger. This number includes 33,103, who were 18 years old; the largest age group. 3-4 million Vietnamese also perished.
In the 1960’s television became the primary source of the news. It was the first time the public saw unfiltered images of a war leading to anti-war protests that eventually ended the war. In 1968 the Sony Trinitron KV 1210 tv was the first color tv and most popular which I used as a framing device to show the many images of the war.
My response to the “Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial” illustration was very emotional and the right choice for me. The title, “Stalemate” comes from a statement Walter Cronkite, a prominent and highly respected news anchor at the time, used in one of his broadcasts after returning home from visiting Vietnam.
- Mary N. Hurwitz