Tuesday, March 20, 2001

By Adam Ramirez
Bosnia bureau

Ivana Avramovic / Stars and Stripes Sgt. 1st Class James L. Baker and Chief Warrant Officer Georgia Powell look at Rusmir Salihbegovic's art exhibit on Camp Comanche, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

COMANCHE BASE, Bosnia and Herzegovina — A local painter has brought a touch of art and culture to U.S. troops in Bosnia, and plans to teach them to create artwork of their own.

Troops stationed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina aren’t generally allowed beyond the barbed-wire fences of the bases except as part of their duties, so acclaimed Tuzla artist Ramir Salihbegovic brought the art to the soldiers.

On Monday, the painter hung dozens of vibrant, colorful paintings inspired by his homeland in the Chenoa recreation tent, and the rustic structure immediately took on the feel of an art gallery. The thin plywood walls now feature vibrant oil-on-canvas paintings. Images of Bosnia’s past loom over pingpong and pool tables.

Morale, welfare and recreation directors arranged for the exhibit after seeing Salihbegovic’s gallery in the Hotel Tuzla. Now they are making plans for him to teach courses on glass painting, silk art, oil-on-canvas and watercolors.

Salihbegovic, whose white beard and fishing cap make him a dead ringer for writer Ernest Hemmingway, said he feels a bond with his American brethren and wants to expose them to Bosnia’s culture.

Ivana Avramovic / Stars and Stripes Rusmir Salihbegovic finishes his painting with a few touch-ups of color right out of the tube.

"I want Americans to see another side of our culture — and not just think we’re a people of conflict," said Salihbegovic, 53. "I love the American lifestyle. If not for the Americans, where would we be?"

Candy Guzman, the MWR contact who invited Salihbegovic to Comanche, said it’s a blessing to have his art on display right on base.

"These guys are locked in here, so this is a way they can see that there is talent and another world outside these gates," Guzman said. "A lot of these guys associate Bosnia with war-torn — hopefully this will help them realize there’s a lot more."

Troops making their way into the Chenoa tent liked what they saw. Many of them asked about the prices of the artwork and watched as Salihbegovic created a green, yellow and blue flower painting.

"These are some beautiful pieces of art — he’s a very talented man," said Chief Warrant Officer Georgia Powell, who bought one of the oil paintings the artist did Monday.

"It’s good for us to see their skills and their culture. I like the colors and forms he incorporates."

Cpl. Shawn Lee agreed. The new arrival from the Georgia National Guard said he was happy to get a view of Bosnian art on base.

Ivana Avramovic / Stars and Stripes Rusmir Salihbegovic puts the finishing touches on a painting.

"These are just beautiful — especially that huge one over the door," said Lee, who attended The Art Institute of Atlanta. "We’re lucky to see art like this anywhere and to have it here on base …"

Salihbegovic has studied at fine arts academies in Paris, Stockholm, Amsterdam and Sarajevo. A Tuzla native, he has had individual exhibitions worldwide since 1970.

He said he plans to paint a large mural of an eagle with the rolling Bosnian hills in the background and present it to the troops at Eagle Base.

"Art brings everyone together," he said with a smile. "Anything I can do to help further art and artists, wherever they are from, I will do."

MWR hopes to have the art classes begin within a month.

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