Amazing Moments in the Vet Art Project

Posted by DCA Theater on February 11, 2009 in January-June 2009 Season, INCUBATOR Series: The Vet Art Project

by Lisa Rosenthal, Vet Art Project facilitator

As the first week of the Vet Art Project draws near, we have shared many moments of great insight and witnessed many precious jewels revealed. I invite you to add your favorites here. Here’s my list so far:
—The reverent silence of the artists the first night when Bob and John from Dryhootch.org opened up and shared their life journeys and their challenges with PTSD.
—Hearing two male combat veterans thank another female veteran for her service, off the field of combat, and letting her know that her service was equally as valuable.
—Witnessing the stories of two combat veterans, whose experiences are separated by 40 years, yet their journeys back are similar.
—A female veteran opening up to share her story with a reporter while she made a collage in words and pictures

[The pictured image was created by Christina Reddington, RN, the facilitator of the Picture Stories of War program.]

First Night reflections—on last Tuesday

Posted by DCA Theater on February 6, 2009 in January-June 2009 Season, INCUBATOR Series: The Vet Art Project

by Lisa Rosenthal, Vet Art Project facilitator

The artists’ orientation began the Vet Art Project with nearly 40 artists sharing different stories and reasons for getting involved in the project. The room felt electric yet vast, widened by our various journeys to this place and time. Yet when Bob and John, two Vietnam Veterans began to share their stories of time lost and challenges they’ve faced due to PTSD, and how they were saved because of the kindness and support of family members and friends, we came together as one community. We gather to bare witness to these truths, to help strengthen these voices, to create art to express these feelings and realities. We realized we gathered for one purpose: to support our veterans in their truth by bringing these stories to the community and connect us all by how we are affected by war.

Veterans lead the way at latest Vet Art Project Outreach Program

Posted by DCA Theater on January 9, 2009 in January-June 2009 Season, INCUBATOR Series: The Vet Art Project

By Lisa Rosenthal, Vet Art Project facilitator

The DuPage Writers Group hosted the most recent outreach program for the Vet Art Project at the Carol Stream Public Library. A dozen of us gathered to share stories about war and learn about the plans for the Vet Art Project at the Chicago Cultural Center in February 2009. And while I came with a lot of prepared material, we were treated to a great learning experience with the help of J.D. Kammes (Iraq War and Kosovo War veteran), a member of the NIU Veterans Group, and Gerald L. Lundby (WWII veteran). J.D. talked about how sharing his war experiences with his family helped his uncle share some of his experiences during the Vietnam War for the first time.

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