There are two events occurring this weekend, both of which concern issues of war in relation to the experiences of veterans returning home.
The first is Finding Home, an exhibition by artists and veteran-artists. The opening is Friday, June 12, from 5:00-7:00 PM at Art@12, 12 Farnsworth Street in Boston’s Fort Point Neighborhood.
Artists in Finding Home include Combat Paper Project, Chris Vongsawat, Gabrielle Keller, Jeremy Stainthorp Bergren, Jim Lommasson, Kaitlyn Boucher, Nelson Curry, Stuart Diamond, Lauren Gillette, Ken Hruby, Aaron Hughes, Jo Israelson, Deborah Laughlin, Marilyn Nelson, Dan Osterman, James O’Neil, Jon Orlando, Dan Paluska, Jose Santos, Robin Shores (Sculpture/Installation finalist ’07), Beverly Sky, and Chris Watts. Check out the Odysseus Nerve Garden blog for more.
And the other is a call for participation for a new Arts & Veterans cable television program. The premier of Welcome Home is being broadcast on Channel 17 in the towns of Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, and Chatham at 1:00 pm this Saturday, June 13. The purpose of Welcome Home is to invite volunteers to provide free art lessons to veterans. According to founder and local artist Robert John Cook, “All of us are artists, in one form or another. Whether it’s with a paint brush, cooking spatula, or a guitar with a few chords. We are asking those with a creative skill to step forward, volunteer, and share with veterans in need.”
Appearing on the initial broadcast is Dr. Jocelyn Howard of the Veterans Affairs’ Hyannis Vets Center, Margaret Van Sciver of the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, and Crystal Macara of Cape Codders for Healthcare Reform.
Congressman Delahunt released the following statement: I want to applaud the efforts of Robert John Cook and all of the veterans organizations and artists groups who are participating in this new and exciting initiative. I look forward to working with our veterans in the coming months as this project unfolds. To participate in Welcome Home, submit your interest via email to: Robert John Cook at MayflowerStudio@aol.com, or call (508) 367-5571.
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