Page 43 - FOP May 2019 Magazine

mensions 2.0 Art Gallery, he carefully selected three oil paint- ings that would showcase the range of his talent. In addition to an officer portrait titled “Alan,” which appeared in the January issue, the artist also had a landscape and seascape on display.
Over the span of the eight-day show, Bucks was inspired by the assortment of artists who bravely revealed a more person- al side of law enforcement. “It’s really impressive to see how many [officers] are artistically talented,” Bucks noted. “These are all police officers who are willing to show a part of them- selves.”
Exhibition spectators who took a moment to view Morris’ work were not just able to appreciate the uniqueness of her lithographic prints, which begin by sketching an image onto a stone that is treated with an acid bath. They also got a peek into her personal life, as each picture had ties to her family roots.
“All of my family is in Arkansas and Texas. They’re very im- portant to me,” Morris explained. Her prints featured scenes from her grandparents’ dairy farm. “That’s kind of my inspira- tion sometimes...while being away from them, remembering where I come from through art.”
Joining a room full of officers, many of whom also under- stand the value and necessity of picking up a pencil, paint- brush or camera, proved to be inspirational for Morris. The Dimensions 2.0 Art Gallery may have been just what she need- ed to continue her craft while remaining active on the job.
“I never thought that I would have crossed paths with as many artists as I have on the job,” Morris insisted. “Since I’ve been on the job, I’ve kind of dropped the paintbrush, so to speak. I’ve been trying to get back into it.”
For other artists, like Tolley, art has remained a therapeutic tool throughout a law enforcement career. Tolley’s first book, Disturbance with a Mental, was published in the summer of 2018. But at Dimensions 2.0, Tolley’s medium shifted from words to watercolors, as he showcased three pieces from his collection of Chicago Blackhawks hockey player portraits. Tolley’s secret? He mixes coffee stain with watercolor to per- fect the shading.
“I wanted the public to know there’s a softer side to us,” Tolley insisted. “It meant a great deal to be recognized with my peers and shown with them.”
As attendees walked around the gallery, they gained a new perspective on law enforcement. The pieces told a story, from the way officers feel to the people and places they care about and the materials that inspire them.
The show placed officers under a different type of spotlight but called on a familiar sense of bravery that each CPD officer exhibits on the job and in the showroom.
“I take great pride in our fellow officers and their ability to show off their creativity and talents,” Morales disclosed. “It takes vision and courage to show off their work. It’s not always easy to do something like that.”
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