Fusco’s ‘Bitter Fruit’ Reflects The Solemn Pride Of Heroism

RIDGEFIELD — In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued his Armistice Day proclamation, which said in part: “... To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service...”

After World War II, leaders of veterans’ groups designated November 11, renamed Veterans Day, a time to honor all Americans who had seen combat.

As another Veterans Day approaches, a new exhibition at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum captures the vision of Mr Wilson’s eloquent words with a photographic exhibition by Paul Fusco, called “Bitter Fruit.”

“Bitter Fruit” documents the funerals of US soldiers killed in Iraq.  Mr Fusco focuses on the other casualties of war — families left behind when a soldier dies.

He has traveled to over 27 different towns documenting the loss of life and the anguish of the family and friends left behind.

“All wars produce casualties,” wrote the photographer in the Introduction to the exhibition.

“From the beginning of the Iraq war, the great ‘spin’ has been that only the enemy suffers casualties… Herein are a few of those families that have had to endure the bitter truth and the intolerable loss of this war.”

The photographs have been Mr Fusco’s personal protest against government attempts to downplay the costs of war.

Paul Fusco was born in Leominster, Mass., and currently lives in New Jersey. He was a war photographer in the United States Army Signal Corps in Korea, 1951-53.

After the war, he studied photojournalism at Ohio University. He worked as a staff photographer for Look magazine, documenting social issues in the US and around the world.

“Paul Fusco: Bitter Fruit” is an exhibition organized and circulated by Magnum Photos, Inc.

The exhibition will be on view at The Aldrich until February 25.

The museum, at 258 Main Street, is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 5 pm. Call 203-438-4519 or visit AldrichArt. org for admission, directions or additional information.