"Hearts and Stars" sculpture by U.S. Army soldier, James McNeely, who served in Vietnam from 1969-1970 is on display within the museum. He states" "I won't try to explain the sculpture, but just say that it is a moment in time that has been with me for 28 years. And I hope none of us ever have to see again." Scroll down for more art by veterans...
The war may have been a million miles away and fought decades ago. But for any number of brave men and women who experienced combat firsthand, that war can still rage on relentlessly deep inside themselves.
Called PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), how do soldiers defuse their painful memories that, for them, could implode at any moment?
According to Giselle Futrell, Executive Director of the National Veterans Art Museum, 4041 N. Milwaukee Avenue, 2nd floor, Chicago, IL, 17-22 U.S. veterans die by suicide every day.
That’s where self-expression via the arts can come to the rescue. Through sculpture, photography, and hands-on creations, vets can turn their angst into art, And, by doing so, they are creating powerful statements, generating cross-generational conversations, fleshing-out bad memories, and literally saving their own lives in the process.
“Art acts as a vessel for veterans to return back to society and stay engaged,” Giselle observed.
The museum’s current featured artist -- Steven Luu – offers a gallery of work called, “A Path to Healing & Transformation” where he explores art as a means of addressing and confronting trauma. It is on display now through December 13, 2024.
An artist who served as a medic and was later wounded, Luu creates sculptural installations that deal with his traumatic experiences including numerous deployments in the Middle East. His narrative ultimately transforms loss and traumas into survival and rebirth.
“Luu is taking an experience and making it tangible for others to relate to,” explains Giselle.
The museum’s collection as whole depicts artist veterans capturing moments in time through a variety of mediums, alongside other wartime displays. The plethora of military items shown include what soldiers used daily offering civilian visitors a glimpse into a soldier's everyday life from helmets and food rations to radio equipment.
According to Giselle, the life expectancy of a radio operator during the Vietnam war was approximately 10 seconds!
An exciting future awaits this veterans' art museum with plans now underway to move to a new and expanded location in the Jefferson Park area next summer. It will be more accessible with a variety of transportation options for visitors and offering twice as much space at 5,200 square-feet. Be sure to stop by when you can -- it is worth the trip and admission is free.
HOURS: Tuesday – Saturday | 12:00 – 4:00 pm
Open on Memorial Day and Veterans Day
Learn more here: About — National Veterans Art Musem (nvam.org)
"Comic Book at DMZ" by Charles Shobe 25" x 21" oil on canvas.
"We Regret to Inform You" by Cleveland Wright 35-1/2" x 26-1/2" oil on canvas
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