Somerset artist Brian Fox has created a powerful exhibit titled “In the Valley of the Shadow,” now on display at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, Massachusetts, through December 27th. The paintings depict the harrowing experiences of Vietnam War veterans, with Fox spending hours consulting veterans like Wayne Smith, a former combat medic, and David Jennings of the 1st Marine Division to ensure historical and emotional accuracy. The project began with a single war-themed painting and has grown into a full exhibition that Fox plans to expand by one or two paintings each year.
The exhibit matters because it gives voice to Vietnam veterans who, as Jennings notes, waited 55 years to be heard. By translating their firsthand accounts into visceral, technically precise artwork, Fox bridges a gap between public memory and personal trauma. Patrick Norton, executive director of the Narrows Center, hopes the collection prompts younger generations to reflect on a distant war and the limited sacrifice borne by a few. The show also honors soldiers who never returned, offering a subtle but powerful meditation on war, memory, and recognition.