Force Support Squadron stands up CMSAF VISIT - San Antonio News

PAGE 14 TALESPINNERJULY 17, 2009Artists seek inspiration at LacklandBy Mike JosephStaff WriterFour freelance artists spent lastweek on base, observing TeamLackland’s mission as part of the AirForce art program.The four artists, of various backgrounds,locales and ages, wereshuttled about base by TracyEnglish, 37th Training Wing historian.No stone was left unturned as theartists photographed, sketched, andmade mental pictures of images torecreate on canvas for the art program.Mr. English said there are nearly9,000 pieces in the art program, andthat Lackland was lucky to have anart gallery on the second floor of thebasic military training reception center.The gallery contains 70 piecesthat reflect Air Force enlisted heritage.“I’m hoping they will do piecesreflecting enlisted heritage, pieces ofartwork we can get and put on displayat the art gallery,” said Mr.English. “Their mission here is to seeour mission, to see what we do dayin, day out.”One of the artists in the group,Dick Kramer, made his first trip toLackland 41 years ago, and sees thechanges.“Yeah, even the Alamo looksolder,” the Leesburg, Va., resident,said with a hearty laugh.Mr. Kramer said 25 years ago hedid a rendering of a Minot Air ForceBase, N.D., security officer and hisdog. He wants to update that piece,so his focus during this visit wasSecurity Forces and the working dogprogram.As he stepped off the elevator onthe second floor of the SecurityForces museum, he yelled out, “Oh,my God! That’s the drawing,” referringto an Airman montage he’ddone years ago.A split-second later, he cried “Holycow! That’s the Airman!” about asecond sketch, this one a duplicate ofhis earlier drawing from Minot.After catching his breath, Mr.Kramer said, “I want to do anabsolute perfect update (on the officerand dog) and I got it.” His freelancework for the Air Force was“the fun job,” and he expected tohave five or six pieces ready for thegroup’s October 2010 presentation tothe Air Force.See INSPIRATION P15Photo by Alan BoedekerTony Stencel, a freelance artist with the Air Force Art Program, takes photos of traineesduring the Airman's Run July 11. The team visited Lackland to learn about the 37th TrainingWing so they can produce paintings or drawings to illustrate the wing’s missions.