CWU professor’s public art display unveiled in Richland

A Central Washington University professor’s artwork honoring past, present, and future members of the National Guard is currently on display at the Tri-Cities Readiness Center (TCRC) in Richland.

Commissioned by the Washington State Arts Commission, the public art project titled “Camaraderie” was created by Art + Design Professor Gregg Schlanger. The aluminum and glass display features the Washington National Guard’s Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, 81st Brigade.

“The portraits of the soldiers and their families laughing is a simple gesture that can have a powerful meaning — a gesture I think that is very appropriate for a public setting such as the TCRC,” Schlanger explained. “It is my intention these laughing portraits will allow the soldiers, the public and those that visit the Readiness Center to see themselves in them, enjoy the moment and possibly remind them of that time when they laughed so hard, they cried. Those are the moments that come to mind for me.”

The portraits of the soldiers and their families were taken at the Readiness Center in September 2025, and Schlanger chose to incorporate a range of bright colors in the artwork to represent happiness and laughter.

The main imagery is comprised of profile portraits of National Guard soldiers laughing. The images are placed facing each other on the various pieces of colored glass. One features a soldier and his wife; two others show the soldier and their children.

“It is my intent that these images represent camaraderie, brother(sister)hood, friendship, community, fellowship, generosity, compassion, and more,” he said.

On a layer behind the portraits is an image of the Washington State from a 1947 Rand McNally atlas that became public domain in 1975. The portraits are digitally printed on glass as halftone images, which make use of dots to create the image. Schlanger noted that the images appear as detailed portraits from a distance, but the dots become more apparent when the viewer moves closer to the artwork.

“I selected to use halftone images to maintain as much transparency as possible to the glass to see the map image behind the portrait and to draw a connection to our history and past printing techniques,” he said.

Schlanger has completed a variety of other public art displays, including one called “Deliberation” at the Community Justice Center in Lynnwood and another titled “We Are …” at North Thurston High School in Lacey. See more of Schlanger’s work on his website.