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Supporting the National WWI Museum Special Exhibit

Defense

MRIGlobal is proud to support The National World War I Museum’s special exhibition featuring John Singer Sargent’s masterpiece Gassed.

On loan from the Imperial War Museums in the U.K., Gassed is the focal point in this special centennial exhibition. Sargent’s landmark panoramic captures the scene he witnessed in 1918 Bailleulval where British soldiers blinded by a mustard gas attack were receiving care.

The exhibit features historical and contemporary objects on detection and protection from chemical warfare. It runs through June 3, 2018 in the Museum’s Wylie Gallery (Two Memorial Drive, Kansas City, Mo.)

Special guest lectures and other events are also scheduled including Enduring Legacies of Gassed on Wednesday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m.  This features three rapid-fire talks looking at the different aspects of the legacy of the violence depicted in Gassed, and what has—and has not—changed in the last century.

Speakers include:

  • Dean Gray, Ph.D., Director of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance at MRIGlobal, outlines recent advances on the detection and protection against chemical weapons.
  • Photojournalist David Carson, war correspondent and Pulitzer-Prize winning for his coverage on protests in Ferguson, Mo., will share his experiences on being the observer of violent history.
  • Tim Hornik, Vice President of the Heartland Regional Blinded Veterans Association, will discuss his work with veterans that, like himself, lost their eyesight due to combat injuries.

>> View the full video presentation of Enduring Legacies of Gassed here.

About The Gassed Exhibit

John Singer Sargent’s incredible masterpiece Gassed is truly one of the giants of the art world at more than nine feet tall by 21 feet long. While the landmark painting is the focal point in this special centennial exhibition, the exhibit includes original maps of the dressing station where Sargent witnessed the scene he depicted and reproductions of many of his study drawings and featuring historical and contemporary objects on detection and protection from chemical warfare.

Additionally, the Museum and Memorial partnered with the U.S. Army Chemical Corps Museum to feature historical and contemporary objects showing detection and protection from chemical warfare from World War I to the modern era. Assistance was also provided by MRIGlobal.

About John Singer Sargent’s Gassed

Reaching a British dressing station southwest of the French city of Arras in the summer of 1918, famed American artist John Singer Sargent found his subject of an overdue painting. Sargent had been commissioned by the British Government to “contribute the central painting for a Hall of Remembrance for the World War.” He had procrastinated until he saw the dressing station.

The final product, Gassed, is considered one of the most important war-related works of the past several centuries, Gassed was hailed as “monumental” by the New York Times, a “masterpiece” by the Daily Mail, “magnificent by the Telegraph, “epic” by the Associated Press and “extraordinary” by The Guardian.

Gassed has been viewed by tens of millions of people since its completion. Its significance has grown over time as noted British broadcaster/historian Jon Snow hailed the painting as one of the “10 Best British Artworks About War,” while The Guardian listed Gassed among “1,000 Artworks to See Before You Die”.

About the National World War I Museum and Memorial

Located at 2 Memorial Drive in Kansas City, Mo., The National World War I Museum and Memorial is America’s leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community. The Museum holds the most diverse collection of World War I objects and documents in the world and is the second-oldest public museum dedicated to preserving the objects, history and experiences of war.

The Museum takes visitors of all ages on an epic journey through a transformative period and shares deeply personal stories of courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice. Designated by Congress at America’s official World War I Museum and Memorial located in downtown Kansas City, Mo., the National World War I Museum and Memorial inspires thought, dialogue and learning to make the experiences of the Great War era meaningful and relevant for present and future generations. To learn more, visit theworldwar.org