War Games

Looking at photographer Ernie Button’s images of masked action figures and plastic soldiers, you might assume he’s a geeky toy collector who still lives in mommy’s basement. Not so, says Button: “For me, it's more about how the meaning of things changes as we get older.”

Button photographed his whimsical models through magnifying lenses, which he moved to create faux “action.” The resulting images, which you can see at a free reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, September 19, often look disturbingly real. “Currently being at war and noting how the war affects individuals and families, both on a physical and emotional level, well, it's hard to look at the green army men as just [toys] anymore,” says the artist.

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Hey, maybe we should mail McCain some of the little guys.