Saturday, May 27, 2017 at 6:00 PM
RIPE Art Gallery invites you to join us for a night of celebrating the elegance of traditional portraiture, “Portraits of Honor, Dignity, and Respect -The Patriot Guard Riders” by photographer Rick Wenner, will be opening on May 27, 2017, with a reception from 6-9pm.

Rick Wenner is an award winning portrait photographer based here on Long Island, who is well known for a diverse career wandering New York City. He has photographed for such companies as FCB Health, Gotham Magazine, Hampton’s Magazine, Inked, Long Island Pulse Magazine, MAXIM, New York Observer, Reader’s Digest Sports Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal, Stony Brook Medicine and Stony Brook University.

Five months after witnessing “The Patriot Guard Riders of NY” escort his close friend Sgt. Ryan Dickinson to final rest, Wenner began this prided collection and photographic effort to show, first hand, the impact, and the important role the Riders play for military families. He undertook the journey of capturing these people; not only to honor those who honor these soldiers, but to provide an insight to the general public of what these men and women do here on Long Island. Wenner’s goal was to illustrate to those unaware, the tangible support this group provides both emotionally, and physically with their presence, and to give them the respect they do not ask for.

The group itself was originally enacted as a citizen honor guard for those fallen in service. They provide escort for the deceased on their journey, and shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protesters, with strictly legal and non-violent means. This is often done from the airport to Calverton National Cemetery. The Patriot Guard Riders are not only made up of veterans and bikers, but of parents of soldiers currently enlisted, (Blue Star Moms and Dads) and parents of soldiers deceased. (“Gold Star Moms and Dads”). Non-military citizens are of course welcome and children, otherwise known as “The Little Patriots”, stand proudly in the flag line.
RIPE brings this show to our audience, fans, and collectors purposely on Memorial Day weekend, 2017. It is in our continuous effort to expose Long Island talent, and is part of our ongoing programing of contemporary fine art photography.

Artist Talk on June 7, 2017 from 7-9pm
Exhibit on view until June 10th, 2017.