Art exhibit of ‘Heroes’ at Liberty Station celebrates Navy’s 250th birthday

POINT LOMA – Retired Navy chief Joseph Pisano has a new mission.

He creates unconventional military art using dog tags and drywall screws to make artworks honoring veterans. He has also teamed with a nonprofit promoting efforts to reduce veteran suicides.

Toward that end, and to celebrate the country and the Navy’s 250th birthday, several of Pisano’s novel art pieces now adorn the hallways of the Liberty Station Command Center in Building 200 at 2640 Historic Decatur Road. 

One of his innovative pieces, “The Guardian — Wings of Sacrifice,” is fashioned from 2,500 military dog tags, some of which are embossed with veterans’ names. It serves as a visual tribute to the Navy’s 250 years.

The installation includes a commemorative plaque featuring a QR code linking to Liberty Station’s signature NTC Alumni Video series, inviting visitors to hear firsthand accounts from veterans who trained on the property during its time as a Naval training center.

Pisano is also partnering with Dr. Chrisanne Gordon, founder of the Resurrecting Lives Foundation, a national nonprofit raising awareness and preventing suicides among veterans. Together, they are promoting awareness and prevention of high veteran suicide rates through the nationwide suicide prevention campaign named Veterans Standing Together Across America.

Discussing the significance of this effort, Pisano said, “We lose 22 veterans a day nationally due to suicide.”

Pisano’s most current artistic tribute, “The Art of Immortalizing Heroes,” is comprised of seven panels depicting World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Global War on Terrorism, unsung heroes, funeral honors, and a corrugated wall highlighting the Freedom Wall and Vietnam Memorial Wall. 

This multi-panel sculpture was created using more than 100,000 drywall screws, 1,000 dog tags, and 3,800 wooden stars. More than 2,000 servicemembers and veterans, as well as 1,500 children, adults with special needs, and community members, participated in creating this artwork.

Pisano’s installation is part of efforts celebrating the country and the Navy’s 250th birthday by the Liberty Station Community Association, which oversees the entire Liberty Station property.

“Liberty Station is not just a destination; it is a living tribute to the brave men and women who have defended our freedoms for the past 250 years,” said Laurie Albrecht, director of Liberty Station Community Association.

“As we celebrate the Navy’s Semiquincentennial, we are honored to bring our community together to recognize the sacrifices, triumphs, and unbreakable spirit that define our nation.”