New museum shows artwork done by soldiers in trenches

ALLIANCE

If you’re interested in the evolution of toy soldiers, and seeing the works of a gunner who signed his artwork upside-down, the new World War History & Art Museum is for you.

“The paintings tend to be simple and they tend to be subdued,” Joel Parkinson said while guiding officials and reporters on a one-hour tour Saturday of the museum, 1300 E. State St., here.

Parkinson, director and curator, was referring to a collection of 289 original paintings and drawings by World War I soldiers representing the United States, Germany, Italy, France and several other countries.

The artwork highlighted one of nine exhibits at the museum, which is to open to the public at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Its main purpose is to preserve and promote the history and art of World Wars I and II, Parkinson said.

Many of the nearly 300 pieces are small, stark and grim, largely because they were done by soldiers in trenches, he explained.

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