Damon Bazzeghin and Michele Klemaszewski Kenny at an earlier showing of Collateral Damage. (Submitted photo)
CHESTER – Collateral Damage, woodcut prints by Michele Klemaszewski Kenney illustrating poems by her stepfather, Vietnam veteran Damon Bazzeghin will be on display at the Chester Common Table Restaurant, 30 Main Street, Chester from Nov. 7, 2017 to Feb. 27, 2018. An opening reception for the show will be held on Veterans Day, Saturday, Nov. 11t from 4-5:30pm.
The poems by Damon Bazzeghin are influenced by his experience in the Vietnam War. He served as a combat infantryman with the Americal Division in Vietnam from Jan, 9, 1968 to Oct. 16, 1968. His tour ended with multiple gunshot wounds in Vietnam. Among the many medals Bazzeghin received for his service are two Purple Heart awards.
His writings are related to his experiences in Vietnam, and by the veterans he met at the Springfield Veterans Center, where he worked as a Readjustment Counseling Therapist for over twenty years, retiring in January of 2010.
it just happened
unburdened in morality
experiencing death in
another
eyes wide, seeing not
I needed to know
damon bazzeghin
012209
In August, 2008, Bazzeghin attended the play “No Background Music,” written and performed by Normi Noel, about Vietnam veteran nurse Penny Rock’s journey through trauma to a place of healing. Damon brought the play back to the Springfield area, and co-produced it at the Majestic Theater in the Spring of 2009.
Inspired by both Ms. Noel’s play, and Penny Rock’s own written works, he began writing poetry in November 2008, finding in this a way to articulate his thoughts and feelings, reflective of his personal experiences in Vietnam, and subsequent readjustment to civilian life.
Some of Damon Bazzeghin’s work is posted on-line at www.iwvpa.net: International War Veterans Poetry Archives, a site for veterans of any nation to share their work.
Woodcut artist Michele Klemaszewski Kenney is an artist and educator, working in a variety of media over her 30 year career. She has enjoyed the art of woodcut printmaking since studying with renowned woodcut artist Antonio Frasconi at State University of New York College at Purchase, School of Visual Arts .
The images in the woodcut series bring to life the often dark emotions experienced in war. Although the images exemplify one soldier’s struggle, the emotions invoked are timeless.
Michele Klemaszewski Kenney resides in Chester, and owns and operates Functional Art, a small manufacturing business making custom thermal insulated window treatments. Michele is also very active in her community as the Program Director for The Southern Hilltowns Adult Education Center, and the President of The Jacobs Ladder Business Association.
