Art About War

THE SOLDIERS PROJECT kicks off their “Pathways Home Conference” with a stunning art exhibit by United States Veterans. Featured image by Phillip Schladweiler is a photograph of shrapnel, taken from the artist’s body after sustaining injuries from an IED attack in Iraq. The doctors saved it for him, and now it has become part of the journey of healing himself and for the healing of others. Additionally, this mixed media exhibit offers works by Drew Cameron, Thomas Dang, Roy Facundo, Joseph Fernandez, Jonas Lara, and Ehren Tool with sculptures, paintings, and photographs. There will be a live jazz band and hors d'oeuvres during the event from 7 - 9 pm on Friday, October 4th. 
 
 As a psychiatrist, PURPOSE PRIZE winner Judith Broder knew that without help some soldiers would never get past what they had seen and done. She also understood that a veteran's distress could painfully affect loved ones.
Taking action, Broder created an organization that supports free, confidential, unlimited therapy to service members and their families – THE SOLDIERS PROJECT

Partnering with USVAA, this exhibit features works from at least seven visual artists all of whom are United States Veterans.

United States Veterans’ Artists Alliance (USVAA) is a multi-disciplinary arts organization founded by military veterans and artists. They provide opportunities for veterans in the arts by networking within the arts and veterans’ communities to find funding for individual projects in theater, film, television, visual/fine arts, and a wide variety of crafts. USVAA strives to highlight issues such as the transition from military to civilian life, education, employment, PTSD, TBI, Military Sexual Trauma, and homelessness. We honor veterans of all eras who have distinguished themselves in the arts and humanities, including Edgar Allan Poe, Julia Child, Lou Rawls, Irving Berlin, Abraham Lincoln, Kurt Vonnegut, James Earl Jones and many others.
Pathways Home: A Community Response Conference brings healthcare personnel and veterans together from all over the country. This event provides an opportunity to better understand the often hidden mental health costs that our service members and their loved ones face. Experts will speak about the ways in which our community has responded to address these significant issues.

In recent years, thousands of combat veterans have been coming home from missions in Iraq and Afghanistan with what Broder calls "hidden wounds," including post-traumatic stress disorder, brain injuries, anxiety, problems with sleeping and depression. Left untreated, these emotional troubles can lead to more visible problems, such as child abuse, car crashes, crime and suicide.

To address this broadening crisis, The Soldiers Project has rapidly grown into a network of 700 volunteer mental health professionals, who have provided close to 10,000 hours of care to 900 veterans in six California counties, as well as New York, Boston, Seattle and Chicago. The therapy is free and completely confidential, lasting as long as the clients need it.

Veterans are not the only ones to benefit; one third of the project's clients are family members and partners of the soldiers, who are often unprepared for the challenges their loved ones face upon returning from war. The project's therapists also conduct public lectures to raise awareness about veterans' mental health issues.

For every returning veteran, there is a family behind them that is affected in some way.