A growing movement whereby Iraq War veterans are finding a radical new role for their uniforms is now the subject of a documentary.

By FilmStew Staff, FilmStew.com

After focusing her lens on child labor and an effort to bring healthcare to Tibetan nomads, documentary filmmaker Sara Nesson is now working on what will no doubt be her most attention-getting project yet. Titled Iraq Paper Scissors, the work-in-progress is all about the Combat Paper Project, a movement whereby U.S. soldiers back from Iraq recycle their uniform into artful paper products.

'When you arrive in the war zone, that uniform stands for destruction and chaos and death,' states Eli Wright, a medic from Fort Drum's 10th Mountain Division, excerpted on the documentary's website. 'And so to come back and take that symbol, that piece, to destroy it, to create something new out of it and make a positive thing from that uniform, it's got that feeling that you're moving on from that and stepping onto a new path.'

In an effort to raise funds for her project, Nesson is hosting a two-screening benefit on Martha's Vineyard, where she used to live, on Saturday, July 26th. As part of the event, a group of Iraq veterans from both coasts will spend the week making art, poetry and written word out of their mulched uniforms, works that will then be exhibited as part of the happening at West Tisbury's Grange Hall, which is entitled "Speak Truth to Power."

In an interview with the Martha's Vineyard Times, Nesson says buying some of the art or paying $20 to see her partial film is a concrete way to support the veterans. "They don't want to be thanked for their service, because they aren't proud of it," she argues. "And a sticker on your car saying 'Support our Troops' does nothing to help them."

To produce the Combat Paper, uniforms are cut into pieces, cooked and then macerated in a Hollander beater. The group also works separately with the Iraq Veterans Against the War to put on Warrior Writers workshops, and has under that aegis published to books of collected works.

Email Story Printable Version

More from • From the Dead to the Undead • Bled Dry by MOSQUITO • View this Article (With Photos) at FilmStew.com