ALCOAST 245/19 - JUL 2019, 2019 COAST GUARD ART COLLECTION ACCEPTED JUNE 26 IN NEW YORK

R 291450 JUL19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-092//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//NO5700
ALCOAST 245/19
COMDTNOTE 5700
SUBJ:  2019 COAST GUARD ART COLLECTION ACCEPTED JUNE 26 IN NEW YORK
1. On June 26, 2019 Admiral Karl L. Schultz, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, officially accepted 40
new works by 30 member artists of the Coast Guard Art Program (COGAP) at the Salmagundi Club in New
York City. The annual presentation and reception honored COGAP members. Captain Jason Tama, Commanding
Officer of Sector New York, served as the evening’s emcee. The art program is sponsored by both the Coast
Guard and the Salmagundi Club, which has served as cosponsor since the program’s 1981 inception.
2. The winner of the George Gray Award, COGAP’s best in show award, was presented to Robert Selby of
Colton, N.Y. He won for a triptych oil painting depicting his deployment aboard the Coast Guard Cutter
JOSEPH TEZANOS, homeported in Puerto Rico. The jurors for this prestigious award were
ADM Schultz, Salmagundi Club President Elizabeth Spencer, and artist and teacher Charles Yoder.
3. COGAP uses fine art as an outreach tool for educating diverse audiences about the Coast Guard. Through
displays at museums, libraries, and patriotic events, the art tells the story of our Service’s missions, heroes,
and history. Art is also displayed in offices of members of Congress, senior officials of the executive branch
of government and other military services, and at Coast Guard locations throughout the country. All works
are given freely by COGAP artist members who receive no compensation for time or materials.
4. Units can support this vital outreach program in several ways: 
   A. Inform the COGAP coordinator of upcoming missions and act as hosts for COGAP members, allowing
the artists to capture source material to use in paintings or drawings. 
   B. Assist in recruiting efforts by suggesting that talented artists, service members, and civilians alike, contact
the COGAP coordinator for information on how to join the program.
   C. Recommend to the coordinator local venues that are appropriate for hosting COGAP displays such as
town halls and state houses.
   D. Provide speakers for COGAP events or stage demonstrations, e.g. search and rescue, which can enhance
attendance during art program exhibitions.
5. Currently four active duty Coast Guard service members are COGAP artists. They are MK2 Jasen Newman
deployed to the Coast Guard Cutter ACTIVE, Port Angeles, Wash.; LT Rebecca Rebar, North Pacific Regional
Fisheries Training Center in Kodiak, Alaska; YN2 Joseph Ramos-Cruz of Sector Key West and MST3 Thomas
Unger of the Marine Safety Detachment in Fort Macon, N.C. They join other Coast Guard officers and enlisted
members who earlier were COGAP members. Coast Guard service members, employees, and family members
are encouraged to apply for membership in COGAP.
6. High resolution files of art can be downloaded by units and the public for free from the following website:
https://www.dvidshub.net/search/?q=cogap+artwork&view=grid. Specific collection years can be searched
by adding the collection year to the search. For example art in collection year 2015 can be searched by
adding 2015+collection as follows:
https://www.dvidshub.net/search?q=us+coast+guard+art+program+2015+collection&view=grid.
The program website can be visited at: https://www.uscg.mil/Community/Art-Program/.
7. The program, now in its 38th year, has art on display in museums across the country. Additional exhibitions
are being planned for other domestic locations.
8. For more information, including questions on how to join the program, contact COGAP coordinator
Mary Ann Bader at 202-372-4643 or by email at Maryann.Bader@uscg.mil.
9. RADM Melissa Bert, Director of Governmental and Public Affairs, sends.
10. Internet release authorized.