Art professor's paintings on display at the U.S. Navy Memorial

Member of the Coast Guard Art Program (COGAP) and assistant professor of graphic design Ken Smith is honored by having two of his paintings selected for display during the yearlong art show “Year of the Coast Guard” at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. Only 10 contemporary works in total will be on exhibit. Smith’s paintings included in this are “Air Station Savannah” and “Steady As She Goes.”

COGAP uses fine art to educate different audiences about the United States Coast Guard. Smith joined the program in 2007 when he met a COGAP artist who suggested he join after seeing Smith’s work.

“Air Station Savannah,” which Smith began working on in 2008, depicts a Coast Guard avionics electrical technician pausing briefly while working on an HH-65A Dolphin helicopter. “Steady As She Goes” depicts a Coast Guard service member aboard the Cutter Hollyhock steadying the hoist hook that is used to deploy oil skimming equipment during a multiagency and international contingency exercise on the Detroit River. He began this painting in 2011.

"The curator has wanted to exhibit ‘Air Station Savannah’ ever since he first saw it on our website in 2009. He was thrilled when we told him we were about to make it and Ken's other work, ‘Steady As She Goes’ available for the whole year," says Mary Ann Bader, coordinator for COGAP. She added that both works had won the program's coveted George Gray Award, the equivalent of a best in show award.

Smith says, “The Coast Guard Art Program is a great outreach effort from one of our more under-appreciated Service Branches. I’m thrilled to be associated with them in such a visible way.”

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