painting, Agent Orange
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From the collection of the National Park Service, National Mall and Memorial Parks.

painting, Agent Orange

CATALOG NUMBER

VIVE 03413

ACCESSION DATE

02/12/1985

ITEM SUMMARY

Agent Orange memorial abstract painting on canvas by artist Christopher M. Wagner. The colored, diagonal stripes of the painting symbolically represent the four (4) chemical components that comprised the herbicidal defoliant Agent Orange, while a handwritten inscription by the artist at the reverse surface dedicates the painting, "[...] to all Vietnam Veterans affected by Agent Orange and other herbicides sprayed in S.E. Asia." The artifact was left at The Wall by Christopher M. Wagner between November 1984 - February 1985.

ITEM DESCRIPTION

AGENT ORANGE MEMORIAL ABSTRACT ACRYLIC PAINTING ON CANVAS BY ARTIST CHRISTOPHER M. WAGNER. THE PAINTING CONSISTS OF FOUR (4) DIAGONAL STRIPES (EACH APPROX. 23.7CM WIDE AND RUNNING FROM THE LOWER, PROPER RIGHT-HAND TOWARDS THE UPPER, PROPER LEFT-HAND CORNER OF THE OBVERSE OBJECT SURFACE) IN MAROON, ORANGE, WHITE, AND BLUE ACRYLIC PAINT, RESPECTIVELY, ON A FREDRIX BRAND ARTIST CANVAS. THE COLORS ARE DESIGNED TO SYMBOLICALLY REPRESENT THE FOUR (4) CHEMICAL COMPONENTS THAT COMPRISED AGENT ORANGE HERBICIDAL DEFOLIANT. WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN ARTIST SYMBOL IS PAINTED IN LIGHT ORANGE ACRYLIC AT THE LOWER, PROPER RIGHT-HAND CORNER OF THE CANVAS INSIDE THE LARGER (AND DARKER) ORANGE STRIPE. A SINGLE WIRE PICTURE HANGER IS AFFIXED TO THE REVERSE OBJECT SURFACE OF THE PAINTING AT THE PROPER LEFT- AND RIGHT-HAND SIDES OF THE STRETCHER. AN AGENT ORANGE MEMORIAL INSCRIPTION IS HANDWRITTEN IN BLACK INK AND BLOCK SCRIPT ALONG THE UPPER, PROPER LEFT-HAND CORNER OF THE CANVAS STRETCHER AT THE REVERSE OBJECT SURFACE. THE INSCRIPTION IS FROM THE ARTIST, "CHRISTOPHER M. WAGNER" AND DEDICATES THE PAINTING TO ALL VIETNAM VETERANS AFFECTED BY EXPOSURE TO AGENT ORANGE IN S.E. ASIA. TO THE PROPER LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE HANDWRITTEN INSCRIPTION THE CANVAS/STRETCHER MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER'S STAMP READING, "FREDRIX 22" IS STAMPED INTO THE WOOD FRAME OF THE STRETCHER IN RECESSED, CURSIVE LETTERING/ARABIC NUMERALS. TURNER BOOK, PG. 118.

ACCESSION GROUP

VIVE-00005

RECORD COPONENT QTY

1

ASSOCIATED ITEM TEXT

Text of handwritten memorial dedication and manufacturer/supplier's stamp at reverse surface of canvas stretcher is transcribed in full, as follows: [Reverse object surface, handwritten memorial inscription] "To be dedicated to all Vietnam Veterans affected by Agent Orange and other herbicides sprayed in S.E. Asia. / [signature] / Christopher M. Wagner / Columbus Ohio" / [Reverse object surface, manufacturer/supplier's stamp] "Fredrix 22"

ITEM DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT

Item Weight: 900.0g
Item Length: 56.0cm
Item Width: 71.0cm
Item Depth: 3.5cm (Frame depth)