Canadian Forces Artists Program Exhibition Opens at Beechwood Cemetery The Canadian Forces Artists Program Group 10 Exhibition at Beechwood Cemetery showcases artists embedded with the military from 2022 to 2023, marking 25 years of the program. The Canadian Forces Artists Program Group 10 Exhibition opened Monday at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre in Ottawa, offering visitors a unique perspective on the Canadian Armed Forces through the eyes of embedded artists. The exhibition features works by Michael Love, Megan Dickie, Sora Park, and Tanya Busse, who were given access to military personnel, activities, and operations between 2022 and 2023. The opening coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Canadian Forces Artists Program and Beechwood's 25 years as the National Cemetery of Canada. Artists Embedded with Canadian Armed ForcesEach artist was embedded with Canadian Armed Forces personnel, providing them with firsthand experiences that later formed the basis of the artworks on display. Photographer Michael Love travelled to Latvia as part of Operation Reassurance, where he documented Canadian and allied soldiers participating in NATO training exercises. He lived in the barracks with the soldiers for ten days, an experience he described as distinctly different. Love said the immersion gave him a deeper understanding of military culture and the bonds between soldiers outside their formal duties. He deliberately avoided directing the soldiers while photographing them, allowing them to present themselves naturally to the camera.Artist Sora Park travelled to France to observe the Canadian Armed Forces' Casualty Identification Program and the work of forensic anthropologists attempting to identify Canadian soldiers whose remains were discovered decades after their deaths. Park recounted entering a recovery room at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission where the fragmented remains of two soldiers had been arranged on separate tables. As forensic teams measured bones and collected DNA samples, Park documented the scene through sketches. She said that sketching was her way of gathering data as an artist. Those sketches were later transformed into the artwork now shown at Beechwood. Park's interest in the program was partly driven by questions about her own family history, and she noted that the work can provide answers to families who have lived for generations without knowing what happened to relatives who served in past conflicts. She remarked that the casualty identification program offers answers to families missing that puzzle piece in their family history.Megan Dickie was embedded with Canadian Armed Forces members involved in Operation Golden Orb ahead of the coronation of King Charles III in 2023. Her works include photographs printed on silk and hand-painted using a batik-style process. Dickie focused on the individuality of military members, particularly how their hands and body language differed despite wearing uniforms. She said conversations about uniforms became a way to learn more about the people wearing them, including the history and traditions associated with different military units.The exhibition also includes work from Tanya Busse, who was embedded with Canadian Armed Forces members supporting Operation Reassurance in Latvia. Her work explores the relationship between the body, technology, military systems, and landscape.25th Anniversary Celebrations at BeechwoodThe Canadian Forces Artists Program is marking its 25th anniversary this year, and Beechwood is also celebrating 25 years since its designation as the National Cemetery of Canada. These milestones add significance to the Group 10 Exhibition, which highlights the enduring partnership between the arts and the military. The program has a long history of embedding artists with military personnel to foster a deeper understanding of the Canadian Armed Forces and to create works that reflect the experiences of those who serve.The Group 10 Exhibition will remain on display at Beechwood Cemetery until Dec. 6. Visitors have the opportunity to see the diverse interpretations of military life created by the four artists, each offering a unique perspective on the Canadian Armed Forces and its operations. The exhibition serves as a reminder of the sacrifices and commitments of military personnel and the role of art in documenting and interpreting their experiences.