By Kevin Greer
Lakeside Communications Manager
For most of his career, Jim Mellick’s artwork told humorous and satirical stories. After retiring from his teaching position at Cedarville University in 2014, he turned his attention to a more serious subject. The result became some of his most meaningful and widely recognized work.
Mellick was inspired by the men and women who continue to serve in the military, often knowing they may be sent into dangerous situations. Many return home with life-changing injuries, and he felt their stories were not always remembered.
As a tribute, he created a woodworking allegory for those veterans, describing it as “calling the dogs out.” Instead of depicting wounded soldiers, Mellick began carving dogs that reflect the injuries and experience of those who served. The collection steadily grew.
He will bring 12 pieces from his “Dogs of War and Peace” Exhibit to Lakeside, where they will be displayed in the Hoover Auditorium Lobby from May 18-June 12. The exhibit will be open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 30 minutes before performances and worship services in Hoover Auditorium.
“The purpose of the allegory is to remind people about the sacrifice and the cost of war,” Mellick said. “I wanted to tell it through dogs rather than carving images of wounded humans. It has had a resounding impact on people, because who doesn’t love a dog? Who doesn’t appreciate the craftsmanship and fine woodworking? Who doesn’t value patriotism?”
Mellick brought his other exhibit, “Wounded Warrior Dogs,” to ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where it gained national attention and won the grand prize by popular vote. Since then, it has drawn large audiences wherever it has been displayed.
“There has always been a populist connection and appreciation for this exhibit,” Mellick said. “Its impact went far beyond that competition.”
Originally, the exhibit was intended to raise awareness and support for wounded veterans. Over time, Mellick realized its purpose had shifted. For many visitors, including veterans and their families, the experience became deeply moving and even healing.
“It became an emotional release for veterans,” Mellick said. “Families have told me they haven’t had that kind of emotional experience since visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. That’s when I realized that the mission was changing. It had a healing aspect to it.”
A collector later purchased the original set of 17 dogs with the intention of continuing a national museum tour. However, the collection has remained in storage in California since its last major showing at the Napa Valley Museum.
“I’m hopeful it will get back on the road again,” Mellick said.
In the meantime, he began creating a new body of work using the pieces he still owns. While some works reflect the experience of wounded service members, the newer exhibit coming to Lakeside, “Dogs of War and Peace,” expands to include stories of military working dogs and their handlers.
“Dogs of War and Peace” celebrates the deep bond between dogs and their handlers. Many sculptures take 160-250 hours to complete, a testament to Mellick’s research into breeds, service histories and the emotional stories of the canine teams he portrays.
Mellick’s sculptures are hand-carved from wood – including cedar, walnut, sycamore, cherry, poplar and maple – then laminated and painted to create striking, lifelike representations of real K9 heroes. Each piece captures the strength and sacrifice of dogs whose real-life counterparts served from World War II through recent conflicts.
Each piece is accompanied by a storyboard that shares the story behind the dog and its service.
One of his favorite pieces tells the story of Ron Aiello, a Vietnam War dog handler, and his scout dog, Stormy. Stormy once saved Aiello’s life by alerting him of danger. After Aiello dropped to one knee, a bullet passed just overhead. The two ran and leaped over a hill to safety, a moment captured in Mellick’s sculpture.
“It takes a toll on you emotionally because you’re dealing with real stories,” Mellick said. “But it is also incredibly rewarding to see veterans respond to having their stories told.”
The exhibit also includes a personal piece. Mellick created a sculpture of his own dog, which he describes as his most realistic work. Knowing his dog was nearing the end of its life, he carefully documented every detail.
“I wanted to memorialize my own dog, who served as a model for many of my pieces,” he said. “That is part of why the exhibit is called ‘Dogs of War and Peace.’ It reflects both the realities of service and the quiet companionship of home.”
Mellick who lives in Marysville, Ohio, will visit Lakeside for the first time with the exhibit. On Friday, June 5 at 10:30 a.m., Mellick will present a lecture during the Chautauqua Lecture Series in Orchestra Hall. He will be discussing the “Wounded Warrior Dogs” and “K9 War Story Dogs” that are not in the “Dogs of War and Peace” Exhibit. The presentation includes images of the process, the veteran handlers he’s met along the journey, and dog allegories that employ humor, history and the Bible.
He will also present Gallery Talks on Wednesday, June 3, and Thursday, June 4, at 7:30 p.m., in Hoover Auditorium, sharing more about the “Dogs of War and Peace” project, the sculpting process and the people and dogs behind the stories.
Mellick will be joined by representatives from Veteran Companion Animal Services, a nonprofit that rescues shelter dogs and trains them as companions for veterans with PTSD. Supporting these K9 partnerships is central to his mission, including his goal of pairing one veteran with one service dog each year.
Copies of his book, Honoring K9 Warriors in Wood, will be available following his Gallery Talks, lecture and at Millie Magoo’s & The Fine Print.
“This is the most meaningful and the most purposeful exhibit task that God has given me,” Mellick said. “It isn’t about money or recognition. I’m thankful that I was given this purpose.”
