War and its unintended consequences are the primary themes of Scottie Kersta-Wilson’s creative practice, which includes writing, photography and designing sumptuous silk “story scarves.”
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She grew up in a military family — her father was killed in action in Vietnam; her grandfather survived the Bataan Death March — and, as she writes on her website (www.imagediary.com), “I cannot separate my military bloodline from my being any more than I can change my eye color.”
Kersta-Wilson reads along these lines too. In the Gold Coast apartment she shares with her composer husband are such titles as “In Pharaoh’s Army” by Tobias Wolff; “Of Rice and Men” edited by Maj. C. E. Chunn; and “The Show Must Go On,” a book she wrote about her grandfather’s role as “morale officer” at the Cabanatuan POW camp, where he created an orchestra and theater group.
“I was in ninth grade when my dad died and didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to be different,” she said.
Now telling these stories feels imperative.