Giant Steps Veteran Artists' 2018 Calendars Now Available
2018 Veterans Art Calendar, featuring original artworks by Veteran Artists in The Giant Steps Program, West Haven VA CT Healthcare. All Proceeds Benefit The Giant Steps Art Therapy Program.
Community News
Women in War: Joan Parrot Skiba, USA, RN
IN MEMORIUM
By Joan Parrot Skiba
The ER was so busy with the wounded-so damn young-
the cries and smells were background,
the “push”* had just begun.
The day comes back so clearly, death is vivid in my eye;
a memory that comes haunting me
these many years gone by
The back room called “Expectant,” where those not
yet gone would pass—where the hope for saving
had been lost and they would breathe their last.
Giants Steps In Art Therapy: Toss of the Dice
Vincent Abner is a U.S. Army Veteran who served from 1974-1980. He joined the service with the intention of having a long military career. His career was cut short when he sustained an injury that forced him to leave the military – the aftermath of which he still struggles with today. Despite his physical challenges, being in a creative atmosphere like Giant Steps provides release from the agony that he experiences daily.
Liaison's Ledger: The Empty Table
As we prepare for Veterans Day, to be marked by a ceremony at Beinecke Memorial Plaza this Friday, 10-NOV, 1230 PM, I am reminded of the “Empty Table” set at two events I was fortunate to attend this week. One was our Yale Naval ROTC Navy and Marine Corps Birthday Ball, held annually to commemorate the birthdays of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. The other was held at the Anthony Wayne Middle School in Wayne, New Jersey.
Women In War: Joan Furey, RN, MA
Featured recently on PBS’s THE VIETNAM WAR, we asked our guest columnist, Joan Furey, RN, MA, to expand on her military experience and perspective as Co-Editor of VISIONS OF WAR, DREAMS OF PEACE: Writing of Women In The Vietnam War. She shares more below.
The Poetry and Prose in this Anthology were all written by women, who, in one role or another, found themselves in Vietnam during the years of America’s involvement there.
Giant Steps Art Therapy: Where the Flowers Went
John Henningson enlisted into the Army just ahead of the inevitable draft in 1968. In John’s words, he was “a reluctant warrior”, but saw no personally acceptable alternative to, “answering my country’s call.” He enlisted to assure an opportunity to get into the Officer Candidate Program and in 1969 was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Artillery Branch. He served in Vietnam from 1970 and 1971.
Giants Steps In Art Therapy: Discovering a Voice
Sandra Rodriguez is a US Air Force Veteran who served during the Vietnam Era (1974 - 1978). She also served in the US Navy Reserves. Sandy was deployed to Korea in 1976. She is a recent member of the Giant Steps program. She says, “I never painted before joining the Art Therapy group. It has helped so much, I don’t know why I didn’t come sooner. I also find that painting helps me to use a different part of my brain since recovering from a stroke.” Sandra says her art allows her to connect to her spirituality. She often finds animal totems hidden in her artworks.
Giant Steps In Art Therapy: Instinct To Create
Tom Tribou, USMC, ‘03 ‐ ‘12, enjoys attending the Art of the Brave Art Therapy group within the Giant Steps program because, “…it’s good company, camaraderie ‐ I can finally relax in my environment, and get in flow with my art process.” He is a graphic artist, and also creates 3D artwork from nature or found objects—particularly objects formerly used for destruction such as: bullet casings and shattered glass. His process is about “…creating from the residue of destruction—and by doing so, embracing the human instinct to create, instead of the darker instinct to destroy.”
Giant Steps In Art Therapy: Escaping The Abyss
“I had never considered myself an artist before participating in art therapy at the VA. It was there that I discovered my creative abilities, and my resilience. Making art has pulled me out of the abyss of depression and trauma, and has allowed me to express what my mind was fighting to keep under cover. Fully immersing myself in the art process provides me with a way to deal with intense, sometimes conflicted, emotions about my military experience, and my life.”
Giant Steps In Art Therapy: Art of the Brave
The Giant Steps Program is an arts-driven outpatient mental health program for Veterans connected with VA Connecticut Healthcare. The mission of Giant Steps is to promote the wellness and recovery of Veterans by providing opportunities for creative expression, and connection with others so they can rediscover personal strengths, manage stress, build resilience, enhance self-empowerment and find meaning and pleasure in their lives.
