Indianapolis Art Center celebrates military personnel

An event for veterans to showcase their artistic abilities will take place at the Indianapolis Art Center on Saturday.

Veterans Art Day activities will include a special celebration of ArtTroop, a free program for veterans and active-duty members of any age to meet twice monthly and use their artistic skills. Director of Outreach and Community Programs Nikki Sullivan said art is a beneficial outlet for those who have served.

“We realized that there were a lot of veterans in our community who did not have resources in the ways that would benefit, sort of, the healing that they need, in a way that didn't feel clinical,” Sullivan said, “because we are not an art therapy program, we just happen to have programming that has therapeutic benefits.”

Veterans who participate and create art are called ArtTroopers. Sullivan says their efforts are important.

“So, while they themselves might be not an artist, as an ArtTrooper, their work is hung right there with professional artists who make this as their living and that's a really cool thing for them to be able to experience,” Sullivan said. “We treat their work just the same as any other artists that goes in that show.”

Don Bienvenour is a Vietnam vet and said art classes are helpful for him and other service members.

“The art is a good stress reliever. It gives an opportunity for the vets to, to kind of interact between one another, but I would say the ironwork and the glasses have been the most fun; they've been very challenging,” Bienvenour said.

Workshops in glassblowing, jewelry, sculpture, ceramics and painting will be available during the event on Saturday. Registration for Saturday's event is full.

Contact WFYI All Things Considered newscaster and reporter Terri Dee at tdee@wfyi.org.