rapid fire
Spouse Spotlight
Sheila Lichacz, wife of Maj. John Lichacz, USAF (Ret), was enchanted from a young age by the fragments of pottery she found along the banks of the Santa Maria River in Panama. Today, she incorporates images of pre-Columbian shards in her paintings*, which have hung at the Smithsonian, the Collection of Modern Religious Art at the Vatican Museums, Harvard University, and the Panamanian presidential palace and have been presented to dignitaries such as King Juan Carlos of Spain and Pope John Paul II. Lichacz achieved this acclaim even while undergoing more than a dozen surgeries to remove brain tumors.
Most of your paintings depict oversized, vividly colored clay vessels. Why is that? I was always fascinated by pre-Columbian pottery. The beauty is incredible; the colors are exquisite. Vessels contain water, the essence of life.
You’re received many honors. Which is most meaningful? My greatest honor was being asked to permanently hang a montage titled Blood Money — 30 Pieces of Silver at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Old Jerusalem, just 20 meters from Jesus’ tomb. The Franciscan friars said that to the best of their knowledge, no other living artist has ever done that.
Can you describe your favorite work? In my painting titled Isthmus of Panama, I used clay vessels to represent North America and South America, with shards representing the Isthmus of Panama and the union of the Americas.
Has being a military spouse affected your career? The [U.S. Air Force] has helped every aspect of my life, from enabling my career to providing me with the world’s best medical care. Educational advancement was encouraged for military members and dependents, so while John was flying B-52s, I took art classes. The [Air Force] hospital system kept me alive, throughout so many brain surgeries. The U.S. military … was like a wonderful parent who wanted the very best for its family and gave every opportunity to achieve it. The U.S. Air Force motto, “Aim High,” has always inspired me.
— Maryann Hammers
Attention!
Check out these military-related entertainment offerings.
FILM OPERATION RESURRECTION (Corpus Callosum Creations, 2012) This documentary explores coordinated solutions to the health, education, and employment issues the current generation of veterans face when they return home, particularly those who are affected by traumatic brain injury.
BOOK DOGS OF WAR (Scholastic, 2013) Based on the real-life roles of military dogs, this graphic novel by Sheila Keenan explores the lives of the canine servicemembers of World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War.
BOOK MILITARY FINANCES: PERSONAL MONEY MANAGEMENT FOR SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES (Rowman & Littlefield, 2013) Members of the military, especially those with families, often have a tough time handling their finances. This informative book provides a one-stop guide to navigating financial issues in all phases of service.
MO
*online: See some of Lichacz’s paintings at
www.lichacz.com.
32 MILITARY OFFICER JANUARY 2014
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