Portrait of a Soldier
What Is It?
The Portrait of a Soldier exhibit is a traveling display of hand-sketched portraits of fallen servicememebers from Illinois who have been killed since September 11, 2001 in the Global War on Terror. Artist Cameron Schilling, of Mattoon, drew the first portrait in August 2004, after Army SPC Charles Neeley, also of Mattoon, was killed in Iraq. Schilling gave the sketch to SPC Neeley's parents to convey his sympathy for their loss. In October 2005, while a student at Eastern Illinois University, Schilling decided to draw a portrait of every Illinois servicemember who has fallen during the Global War on Terror.
The portraits are copies of the original, which has been given to the fallen soldiers next of kin, and the exhibit travels throughout the state of Illinois. Lt. Governor Pat Quinn holds a press conference on the opening day at each location, and invites families of the fallen soldiers who live in the area to attend.
Where Will It Be?
City
Venue
Exhibit's Opening Date
TBA TBA TBA
Where Has It Been?
City
Venue
Exhibit's Opening Date
Kewanee American Legion Post #31 November 12, 2009 Rockford Veterans Memorial Hall November 8, 2009 Champaign Parkland College October 31, 2009 Sparta Sparta VFW Hall October 27, 2009 Mount Carmel Wabash Valley College October 24, 2009 Chicago James R. Thompson Center September 11, 2009 DuQuoin State Fairgrounds August 29, 2009 Springfield State Fairgrounds August 14, 2009 Rochelle Municipal Airport June 20, 2009 Springfield State Capitol May 26, 2009 Chicago Navy Pier May 22, 2009 Pontiac Museum Complex, 110 W Howard St December 30, 2008 Aurora Aurora Public Library-Eola Rd. Branch November 7, 2008 Godfrey/Alton Lewis and Clark Community College October 15, 2008 Marion Marion Cultural Center October 7, 2008 Effingham Effingham County Government Center September 26, 2008 Vandalia Kaskaskia College September 17, 2008 Belleville Southwestern IL College September 9, 2008 Kankakee Kankakee Community College August 21, 2008 Roselle Roselle Public Library August 1, 2008 Des Plaines Des Plaines Public Library July 11, 2008 Galesburg American Legion July 3, 2008 Canton Spoon River College June 18, 2008 Springfield State Capitol Rotunda May 29, 2008 Chicago Navy Pier May 24, 2008 Oak Park Oak Park Public Library May 13, 2008 Jacksonville Jacksonville May 5, 2008 Tinley Park Andrew High School April 27, 2008 Taylorville Christian County Courthouse April 18, 2008 Schaumburg Schaumburg Public Library March 28, 2008 Chicago James R. Thompson Center March 19, 2008 Litchfield City Hall March 7, 2008 Pekin City Hall February 18, 2008 Waukegan Genesse Theatre January 30, 2008 Danville Vermillion County War Mueseum November 15, 2007 Chicago James R. Thompson Center November 9, 2007 Aurora Paramount Arts Center November 2, 2007 Crystal Lake McHenry County College October 26, 2007 Burbank Prarie Trails Public Library October 18, 2007 Lincoln Logan County Courthouse October 11, 2007 Glen Ellyn Student Resource Center - College of DuPage October 5, 2007 DuQuoin State Fair August 25, 2007 Cicero Morton College August 3, 2007 Joliet Joliet Area Historical Mueseum June 20, 2007 Chicago Daley Plaza - East Plaza May 22, 2007 DeKalb Holems Student Center - NIU April 30, 2007 Macomb Donald Spencer Student Rec. Center - WIU April 18, 2007 Carbondale Student Center - SIUC April 10, 2007 Normal Bone Student Center - ISU March 27, 2007 Decatur Milikin University November 15, 2006 Naperville City Hall November 3, 2006 Charleston Eastern Illinois University October 30, 2006 Paris American Legion October 23, 2006 Peoria WTVP Studio Gallery October 17, 2006 Moline Blackhawk College - Building One - LL October 12, 2006 Quincy Quincy University - Francis Hall Main Flr September 28, 2006 Rockford Memorial Hall September 19, 2006 Urbana Illini Union Art Gallery - U of I September 7, 2006 DuQuoin State Fair August 26, 2006 Edwardsville Lovejoy Library Main Level - SIUE August 17, 2006 Springfield Old State Capitol June 30, 2006 Chicago James R. Thompson Center May 25, 2006