During the fall semester, Jesuit Dallas’ museum added a collection of pieces created by alum Don Schol ’59 and donated by John Mullen ’63. Artist, Don Schol, has a very unique perspective on his Vietnam Remembrance pieces that are now displayed outside of the Social Studies Commons in the upstairs A hallway.
Don Schol ’59
Don Schol is a Jesuit graduate who went on to have a unique adulthood. Out of high school, Schol went to the seminary, but after three years, left to study arts and philosophy in college. Schol would go to work at an architectural firm where he developed better sculptural and drawing skills. Later, Schol would enlist in the army and be stationed at Fort Hood in Texas before being deployed to Vietnam.
In Vietnam, Schol would be the team lead of Combat Artists and would succeed in many tasks during the war. Schol’s commanding officer then noted, “More than once in the performance of his duties as a combat artist he courageously subjected himself to hostile fire to more realistically depict the role of the United States soldier in photographs, sketches and color studies. Lieutenant Schol, on occasion, due to the tactical situation of the unit with which he was operating, was required to drop his role of combat artist and turn his attention on the action around him. He once performed as a helicopter door gunner in an aerial battle against communist positions along the Cambodian Border. His constant even temperament and resolute courage of convictions portray him as an officer not easily swayed under conditions of extreme pressure.”
After Schol’s time in Vietnam, he and other combat artists began to create art from what they witnessed during the war. Schol’s pieces were based on his personal experiences as a combat artist and also some pieces demonstrated very emotional situations he endured during the war.
In 2011, Schol published a book of woodcut prints during the war and his experience during Vietnam. Some of Schol’s artwork from the book are now in the National Vietnam
Veterans Memorial at Angel Fire, NM, and some of his work as a combat artist is now archived at the Smithsonian Institution.
The Art
Don Schol’s amazing woodblock prints illustrate the pains and struggles him and many soldiers endured while fighting in the Vietnam War. You can see Schol’s Vietnam Remembrance pieces hung up outside of the Social Studies commons in the upstairs A hall way as well as two additional pieces hung up downstairs near the stairwell by the Melsheimer Theatre.
Mrs. Elizabeth Hunt Blanc, Jesuit Dallas Museum Director, commented on the artwork, “Jesuit has an incredible collection with world famous artists, so it is difficult to compare all of the art pieces, but what is really interesting is that Don Schol is one of our graduates. To think that this is really a reflection of his own experience in Vietnam is [fascinating.] Also, one of Don Schol’s classmates John Mullen bought the pieces from an exhibition “Photographs Do Not Bend” [to give to us.]”
Vietnam Remembrance
Either Or, 2008
Night Perimeter, 2008
Take Cover, 2008
Triage, 2008
SOS, 2008
Extraction, 2008
Triage, 2008
War Weary
Thoughts of Home, 2008
Torn, 2008
Fate, 2008
Finality, 2008
Sacrifice, 2008
Eagle Fight, 2008
Going Home, 2008
At Rest, 2008
Time Will Tell, 2008
Don Schol Portrait
This art piece, with Eagle Fight, is showcased separately in the downstairs stairwell by the Melsheimer Family Theatre.
Conclusion
Jesuit is grateful to have Don Schol’s pieces and witness the emotional turmoil soldiers experienced during the Vietnam War through Schol’s intricate woodcarvings.
Thank you to Mr. John Mullen ’63 for donating these pieces to the museum and Mrs. Elizabeth Hunt Blanc for setting up the amazing exhibition.
Stay tuned for more coverage about the Jesuit Dallas Museum on The Roundup!
