Exhibition a touching to unheralded heroes

A unique exhibition featuring artworks focusing on the often overlooked stories of dogs and horses of war will make its home at Valentines Antique Gallery in time for Remembrance Day on 11 November.

The exhibition is a collaboration between prominent local artists Sarah Wallace-Smith and Susan McMinn and will run from Friday 1 November to Friday 31 January.

Both artists have drawn different inspirations in pursuing their subject matter for the show.

Ms Wallace-Smith, who has a gallery/working studio at Valentines (Art on View), was prompted to look for war stories about dogs and the relationships formed with their humans after seeing a picture of her father during World War 2.

Meanwhile, Ms McMinn’s PhD research centred around “the horse in war” during the Palestine Campaigns of WW1, visiting Israel to experience the Anzac trails and landscape in which the horses travelled.

Ms McMinn said the duo would love for people to come and find out about the forgotten heroes featured in the artists’ contrasting styles of work.

“At that time the soldiers were really at the forefront of all the stories,” she explained.

“It wasn’t until later on, in the last 10 to 15 years, that the animals, including the Australian Light Horse, have come to the forefront.”

“People have realised “Oh, hang on, animals went to war as well”, and they didn’t get a choice.”

For Gallantry | They also served is showing from Friday 1 November to Friday 31 January at Valentines Antique Gallery in View Street.