The Brooklyn Campus of the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System (VANYHHS) is calling for “Veteran-Centric-Art” for a National Poster Project on the Afghanistan/Iraq War. The Veteran Art National Poster Project deadline for submissions of veteran art for the 13”x19” National Afghanistan/Iraq War Poster is September 15, 2008.
Art may be realistic or abstract and all media are accepted. To arrange to drop off your artwork and for more information, call the Creative Arts Therapy Coordinator Ms. Melanie Zarabi, LCAT. Ms. Zarabi can be reached at 718-836-6600 extension 1255. The winning artwork will be made into a poster for Veterans Day 2008.
Initiated by the Department of Veterans Affairs Compensated Work Therapy Program (CWTP) and sponsored by the National Office of Psychosocial Rehabilitation of the Veteran’s Health Administration (VHA) all veterans and veteran groups are encouraged to participate.
The mission of the CWTP is to provide a realistic and meaningful vocational opportunity to veterans; encouraging successful reintegration into the community at the veterans’ highest functional level.
The Veteran Art National Poster Project is being organized by Frank Dawson, a Vietnam combat veteran and VHA Liaison Officer in collaboration with Zarabi. Dawson hopes to gain increasing support for creating more artistic venues for veterans’ art, such as cataloging, displaying and honoring the creative expressive art and writing of combat soldiers stationed around the globe by means of electronic and digital transmissions.
Lawrence Drye, a Vietnam combat medic, thinks the contest will go a long way in helping veterans. “Being a war veteran, art has given me a chance to express myself and show others that a veteran can express himself through art. I’m just hoping that this program will help other veterans express themselves through art and begin their own healing process.”
