"If I feel depressed and I need to redirect, acrylics are going to be good because it's longer term-acrylic is a paint you can go to and do some work on to self-regulate," says the retired army special operations major David Potter, a 28-year veteran who served missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa. Repeated blast exposures caused brain injuries in combat for which he received the Purple Heart, but which also devastated many aspects of his life. His road to recovery has included both traditional and alternative therapies to heal his body and mind.
Potter has been participating in the art and wellness experiences through the Art for Vets programme at the Currier Museum of Art since his full-time move to Manchester, New Hampshire, in 2020. He has found great satisfaction in creating his own colour palette, watching the canvas absorb his paints and developing the skills of an artist. Beyond these hands-on skills, he says the programme helps veterans better understand their own emotions, learn new ways to self-regulate and engage in a hobby that helps redirect them if they are struggling.
"There's a lot of challenges and a lot of isolation," says Lucie Amaro Chmura, the Currier's art therapist. While not all veterans struggle with mental health issues, many find re-entry challenging. She says that the military community has a shared experience that civilians cannot comprehend. "Part of the way I developed the programme is really to support more connection with the community, within the veteran community but also to support integration within the non-veteran community."
Collection
[
|
...
]