Women on Guard

The painting highlights the cultural and ethnic diversity of five women from the Minnesota National Guard. The stories show their multi-layered identities as members of the Guard, and their roles aside from the Guard—not separate but melded together.

The background plays an important role, the vivid sunrise is symbolic—rising for women and illuminating the many fields that continue to open up to them. The chess board represents different possibilities and strategies that exist in life, and the many decisions to be made.

The small vignettes in the background depict important personal themes from each of the women's lives, specific to their individual stories…

·       A mother (Captain Katie Morsch—Air Guard) and her children are out chasing a kite, and situated nearby are inspirational “touchstones” used by Morsch in her role as victim advocate.  

·       Physical fitness as denoted by the woman out on an evening jog (Specialist Ashley Barber).

·       A young woman (Staff Sargent Mahsi Alkamooneh) helping the artist prepare the canvas for the painting.

·       Special items worn during her African wedding ceremony (Captain Takeisha Hunt)

·       Law enforcement officer/Native American (First Sargent Jessica Stiffarm) selected a bison skull and Eagle feather, and while physically distant during deployments, her twin sister is depicted writing a daily letter to her.

·       A final symbolic element in the lower right is a white feather—a tribute from the artist to his creative wife, as “thank you” for writing the grant that provided financial support for the painting.

Women in the painting, L – R:

Specialist Ashley Barber, (Hispanic American)) in her operational camouflage pattern (OCP)  uniform.

Captain Katie Morsch (European American) in her Mess Dress (formal) uniform

Captain Takeisha Hunt (African American) in her Pinks and Greens (everyday business uniform)

First Sergeant Jessica Stiffarm (Native American) in her police uniform

Staff Sargent Mahsima Alkamooneh (Iranian American) in her operational camouflage (OCP) uniform.

We the Peop...are getting screwed ©, oil on panel, (2016) by Charles Gilbert Kapsner.

Oil Painters of America 2017 Eastern Exhibition; Finalist in the Portrait Society of America 2016 Members Only Competition, Still Life category.

We the People: In nations of culture, artists are considered the watchdogs of consciousness. With that, still life painting is a great format to utilize in this discourse. The title of this painting reflects a very tainted atmosphere in our country today; there is truly a lot of frustration in the mind of the public. Let us take a little journey and adventure with the visual imagery of this piece.

It all started with the fact that I wanted to use the American flag in a painting, since I really love painting drapery, there are infinite possibilities with the forms, patterns, color, and light. Next what to say and what objects would I use to tell the story, and what was going to be conveyed to the viewer? As it turns out there had been a few potatoes that had been sitting in our kitchen for some time—and rather apparent in viewing their condition. Potatoes take a long time to rot, unlike tomatoes. In the course of their decay they grow long stems or short odd flowery shapes. In short there are a lot of tangible extensions clinging to the main body: politicians who stay in office too long become attached to varied interests that don`t necessarily have the general public in mind. We certainly have seen that in action with the inability of Congress to get anything done, as it relates to the betterment of the country. We see both parties being represented with their respective symbolic animals, the elephant trumpeting its trunk, the donkey seemingly indifferent to the issues at hand. This can go either way in the gridlock seen in our government. You will notice the little deposit behind the both of them—not an actual deposit from the F.D.l.C., but one that l found outside on my driveway. I gently scooped it up, then varnished it to be included to comment on the massive amount of BS that “We the people” have to put up with every day.

There seems be no escape from any of this because of the media with its 24 hour news cycle and the media malpractice that goes with it. With all of that, we with some history harken back to the good old days: 'I LIKE IKE'.