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Eyes Wide Open

Eyes Wide Open

The Eyes Wide Open exhibition is a multimedia journey through the words, images, and sounds of the Iraq war. Visitors move through a vivid memorial to the war's soldier and civilian victims, a searing exposure of the statements told to the U.S. public to justify the war, a compelling outline of what the war is costing us at home, and finally to an interactive, easy way to contribute their voices to changing our country's course toward peace. In this critical time, Eyes Wide Open speaks directly to our hearts and minds, shattering the claim that the war has made America safer and challenging us to confront our fears and let our dreams, not our nightmares, shape our collective future.

AFSC welcomes all people, regardless of their opinion on the war or political convictions, to view the exhibit. The mood of the event will be appropriate to a somber, respectful memorial. AFSC hopes that those who support the war come away with a conscious sense of the war’s cost and that those opposed to war come away with a sense of the sacrifice of the people — the sacrifice of military families, as well as the Iraqi families. The AFSC is actively discouraging anyone from using this exhibit as an opportunity to express their political views through protest or confrontation.

The boots and shoes aligned outside of the Armory Park Seniors Center.

The indoor part of the exhibit.

Harry Shondee Sr., father of fallen soldier Harry Shondee Jr., from Ganado, Arizona, stops to reflect at the boots that bear his son’s name.

The opening ceremony of Eyes Wide Open on March 5th, 2005.

These are the winners of the Eyes Wide Open essay contest, where contestants from Tucson-area Junior high schools were asked to write a narrative on what it would be like if they were a fly on the wall in Iraq, watching families, soldiers, and the repercussions of war. The finalists are as follows: Rebecca Bommersbach, first place; Serena Dippolito, second place; Lynley Price, third place; Stephanie Ramirez, fourth place; Willa Erikson, fifth place.

Isabel Shondee, mother of the late Harry Shondee Jr., shows some visitors his photos.		Beth Sanders, AFSC Program Intern stands with Fernando Suarez del Solar, father of fallen marine Jesus Suarez.

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