Patrick Russell Creative

Jacob • Springfield • 1994
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Twenty years ago today Jacob was killed in Iraq. He was more like a brother than a friend and its hard to believe so much time has passed. We were 18 or 19 when I took this photo on a crappy little Kodak 35mm, point & shoot camera. I was living on my own with another friend and Jacob and I were in a band. We weren't the best, nobody knew who we were, but it was ours. We were living our dream. Move the time machine up to 2005 and Jacob came home from the army. You see, he joined the Army after college to pay off his student loans. At least thats what he told me.

Jacob was home from the Army, but the trip home wasn't just for fun. It was purposeful because Jacob was going to Iraq. I did my best to spend as much time as I could with him and on his last night at home we went to an open mic night. We got up on stage and played 4 or 5 songs. Jacob and I played music one last time.

Jacob was in a convoy, on a mail run, when an improvised explosive device exploded near his vehicle. The IED sent shrapnel through his midsection and killed him. Twenty years ago today Jacob was killed in Iraq.

Congrats to the staff and dancers of Copper Coin Ballet Company on an impressive weekend of Nutcracker performances at UIS Performing Arts Center! You still have a chance to see CCBC's performance of The Nutcracker at Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum as part of Downtown Springfield, Inc.'s Holiday Walks. See more photos here: https://patrickrussell.com/coppercoinballetcompany/

I'm excited to share that I have four pieces in the Pillsburied: Multiple Resurrections exhibit which was curated by Robert Mazrim and will be on display at Springfield Art Association through the end of September. I hope you'll have a chance to check it out.

I was fortunate enough to perform and photograph Copper Coin Ballet Company’s production of The Nutcracker at UIS Performing Arts Center this weekend. It was an amazing experience and the dancers were incredible. You can catch more performances at Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Check out more photos here: https://patrickrussell.pixieset.com/coppercoinballetcompany/

Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys...or at least don't let them grow up to be a Sheriff in our next Murder Mystery. Play pretend with us and audition for Showdown at the Edwards Saloon taking place in October. Auditions take place Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th at Edwards Place here on the SAA campus. Learn more here: https://linktr.ee/springfieldartassociation

I did a photoshoot recently with the dancers of Copper Coin Ballet Company to promote their upcoming performance of Rockballet on August 19 at The Muni. Tickets available here: https://coppercoinballet.org/