Photographer captures 'Faces of War' in ECC exhibit

An exhibition featuring the work of award-winning documentary photographers will be on display from Friday, Aug. 15, through Sept. 25, in Elgin Community College's Safety-Kleen Gallery One.

The gallery is located inside the college's Building H Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.

"Collateral Damage: The Human Faces of War" depicts the personal costs of war. It examines a series of important issues and effects of war generally overlooked, including post-traumatic stress, service by gays in the military, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policies, women soldiers, what constitutes maleness in wars and the long-term effects of loss of a child on family. These conflicts are primarily seen in Iraq and Afghanistan but the effects are universal.

Vincent Cianni, whose work has been represented in museums and private collections across the country, will give a presentation on "Gays in the Military: How America Thanked Me" from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, in the Building G Spartan Auditorium.

After the lecture, the gallery will be open for students and community members to view and ask questions.

Cianni's presentation addresses a list of problems gay and lesbian soldiers experienced while in the military, many of which violated their human rights and ignored codes of decency.

Other series presented in the gallery exhibition include; "Men with War" by Samantha Appleton; "The Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" and "Bedrooms of the Fallen" by Ashley Gilbertson; and the "Never Ending War: Iraq" and "Self-immolation in Afghanistan: A Cry for Help," by Stephanie Sinclair.

For more information, contact Ed Krantz, gallery curator, at (847) 214-7405 or ekrantz@elgin.edu.