Army-men began with my study of the military as an instrument of power. The decision to present the toy-soldier was based not only upon my interest in the military, but also from my family history of career military service.  In approaching these ideas I chose to enlarge some of my favorite toys of childhood.  My intent has been to magnify and emphasize ideas of play, violence, masculinity, power and history.  In general, my work has been designed to engage viewers on a highly physical level by utilizing provocative subject matter and the establishment of a one-to-one scale relationship.  It is by this simple design that Army-men functions.

Army-men, an image of pop-culture, is as banal as it is militant, and makes for a whimsical assault.  The figures (nine to date) are normally arranged in relation to one another based upon a basic understanding of squad-level tactics.  The deployment is typically in the playful and imaginative manner of my youth, yet with a greater awareness of the horror in which my play was once based.  On a personal level, it is a poignant work of remembrance and loss - in spite of it superficial humor.

James Reid
Red Army Man
Plaster
10.5 x 11 inches

James Reid
Blue Army Man
Plaster
10.5 x 11 inches

James Reid
Bazooka Guy
Plaster
10.5 x 11 inches