Art-Making with Phenomenal Veterans at the Ken Wright Memorial Wing of the Virginia War Memorial

For veterans, art-making is a powerfully healing experience. On the morning of Thursday, October 1st, Art For the Journey held a veterans event at the Ken Wright Memorial Wing. The warm personal engagement from our dedicated volunteers engages them and helps facilitate a sense of well-being and peace, a respite from emotional pain and isolation.

Of course, we prioritize the safety of our participants and volunteers! We are always very careful to follow CDC guidelines and had social distancing, sanitizing, and PPE in place throughout the event. Our wonderful volunteers and veterans were very excited to have a safeguarded art event to spend time together safely.

Making art helps veterans to process their experiences with PTSD and other combat-related illnesses.

The opportunity for veterans and volunteers to connect with each other again is incredibly valuable, especially when they are bonding over the art-making process. We are thrilled to have welcomed some new participants and got to see a completely different view of their experiences. It was also wonderful to see how many women were engaged in the veteran’s group program at this event! 

Making art helps veterans to process their experiences with PTSD and other combat-related illnesses. Especially during the distancing guidelines over the last few months, veterans experience more isolation than usual; our program provides a much-needed source of joy and connection. We encourage you to take a look at this video of veterans engaged in the art-making process at our event!

Volunteers’ time, talent, and patience make a big impact on veterans letting their walls down and leaving all their fears and anxiety outside. It is a privilege to feel the warmth and happiness that they all display during our time together. If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about our programs, visit our homepage to find out more.

Join Art for the Journey for a night of art, food, drink, and pickleball! This "Mash-up" of ART and PICKLEBALL is a fun way to share the mission of Art for the Journey to transform lives through art and community!

This year, we have a super fun evening planned. There will be lots of art donated by local area artists, pickleball demos, pickleball courts for play, and lots of delicious food from the Sharper Palette, Belle Isle cocktails, a delicious assortment of fine wine, and a wonderful silent auction. You can play or you can simply watch and mingle! You can definitely see and bid on art, and enjoy the new and different ambience! Also, if you can not attend, you can register to bid on art during the silent auction right from home. We do hope to see you there!!!

Help Art for the Journey by attending the event, and you will make a difference in the lives of people ages five to 105! Art for the Journey seeks to deliver and promote positive mental health and well-being for those who have least access. This fun event will also help others!