Art For Hope: Helping Veterans Through The Healing Power Of Art

May 17 to June 22, 2013
The Galleries at Cleveland State University

The Exhibit
The Art for Hope exhibit shows the work of homeless veterans using art as a form of expression and healing.  Cathartic for the veterans, the pieces also give viewers a window into the emotional and psychological turmoil veterans face following their military service and return from war.

The powerful works shared by these veteran artists demonstrate the benefit of art and art therapy in providing opportunities to be seen, heard and to work through and re-work feelings and experiences.

About the Art Therapy Program
The Volunteers of America Art Therapy Program combines concepts from counseling, psychology and art to help veterans express feelings and experiences as an alternative to verbal expression.  A recognized form of psychological and spiritual healing, art therapy offers new paths to address the mental and emotional needs of the men and women who served in our armed forces.

Each brush stroke fosters self-expression as a way to enhance coping skills, identify strong feelings, manage stress, strengthen sense of self and facilitate personal well-being.

The pieces in the exhibit were created by veteran artists participating in the Volunteers of America Art Therapy Program. The program is available to the homeless veteran residents of the Volunteers of America Veterans Resource Center and Veterans Domiciliary at Wade Park.

Special Thanks
Thank you to Laurel Larson, MPS, ATR, registered art therapist, for her expertise and guidance in leading the veteran heroes through the art therapy process.

About Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America serves more than 1,750 veterans each year in the metro areas of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton.  Nationally, Volunteers of America serves over 7,500 homeless veterans through 37 programs in 18 states.

Volunteers of America is a national, non-profit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential. Through thousands of human services programs, including housing and healthcare, Volunteers of America helps nearly 2 million people across the country – more than 17,000 in Greater Ohio alone.