PHOTOS: Pennies show cost of war

Artist Michael Barrett places pennies in the center of Rotunda Gallery at the Clark County Government Center in Las Vegas on Monday, May 12, 2014. The pennies were part of a performance art piece called "Memories for the Future." Barrett will place 6,799 pennies over a 320-hour performance to honor the 6,799 men and women who died from 2001 to 2004 in Operation Enduring Freedom. The artist's performance began on March 31 and will end on May 23. (Justin Yurkanin/Las Vegas Review-Journal).

Artist Michael Barrett places pennies in the center of Rotunda Gallery at the Clark County Government Center in Las Vegas on Monday, May 12, 2014. The pennies were part of a performance art piece called "Memories for the Future" to honor the 6,799 men and women who died in Operation Enduring Freedom from 2001 to 2004. (Justin Yurkanin/Las Vegas Review-Journal).

Onlookers watch artist Michael Barrett place pennies in the center of Rotunda Gallery at the Clark County Government Center in Las Vegas on Monday, May 12, 2014. The pennies were part of a performance art piece called "Memories for the Future." (Justin Yurkanin/Las Vegas Review-Journal).

Artist Michael Barrett is placing pennies in the center of Rotunda Gallery at the Clark County Government Center as part of a performance art piece called "Memories for the Future." Barrett will place 6,799 pennies over a 320-hour performance to honor the 6,799 men and women who died in Operation Enduring Freedom from 2001 to 2004. The artist's performance began on March 31 and will end on May 23. (Justin Yurkanin/Las Vegas Review-Journal).

Artist Michael Barrett places pennies in the center of Rotunda Gallery at the Clark County Government Center in Las Vegas on Monday, May 12, 2014. The pennies were part of a performance art piece called "Memories for the Future." Barrett will place 6,799 pennies over a 320-hour performance to honor the 6,799 men and women who died in Operation Enduring Freedom from 2001 to 2004. (Justin Yurkanin/Las Vegas Review-Journal).

Artist Michael Barrett is creating a performance art piece called "Memories for the Future" in the center of Rotunda Gallery at the Clark County Government Center in Las Vegas. Barrett will place 6,799 pennies over a 320-hour performance to honor the 6,799 men and women who died in Operation Enduring Freedom in the Middle East. The artist's performance ends on May 23. (Justin Yurkanin/Las Vegas Review-Journal).

Artist Michael Barrett places pennies in the center of Rotunda Gallery at the Clark County Government Center in Las Vegas on Monday, May 12, 2014. The pennies were part of a performance art piece called "Memories for the Future." Barrett will place 6,799 pennies over a 320-hour performance to honor the 6,799 men and women who died in Operation Enduring Freedom from 2001 to 2004. (Justin Yurkanin/Las Vegas Review-Journal).

Artist Michael Barrett places pennies in the center of Rotunda Gallery at the Clark County Government Center in Las Vegas on Monday, May 12, 2014. The pennies were part of a performance art piece called "Memories for the Future." Barrett will place 6,799 pennies over a 320-hour performance to honor the 6,799 men and women who died in Operation Enduring Freedom from 2001 to 2004. (Justin Yurkanin/Las Vegas Review-Journal).

Artist Michael Barrett places pennies in the center of Rotunda Gallery at the Clark County Government Center in Las Vegas on Monday, May 12, 2014. The pennies were part of a performance art piece called "Memories for the Future." (Justin Yurkanin/Las Vegas Review-Journal).