ArtPrize gives veterans opportunity to heal through artwork

(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.) ArtPrize 2022 wrapped up after a variety of exhibits throughout the city, including at Veterans Memorial Park. 

The park was filled with 22 different art exhibits all created by veterans as a way to help them heal and connect with the community. 

The Voices exhibit was put together by Kent County Veterans Services, HAS HEART, and Pamela Alderman, a West Michigan artist. 

Alderman says the 22 exhibits were there to honor the 22 veterans who die by suicide every day. 

 "We're honoring the veterans, we're giving them a voice, we're honoring their service, we're helping connect the ArtPrize audience with the veterans," said Alderman. 

One of the exhibits was called "The Cost of War" and was created by veteran Sarah Anderson. 

Anderson used light photography to create three images. 

"The light represents something that is there even though we can't see it, but the camera can see it, much like the invisible wounds of war that the veteran can see but nobody else can see," said Anderson. 

One of the images shows pills to depict what Anderson believes is a problem of over prescription of drugs in the veteran community. 

"A lot of them are just treating symptoms of things rather than root causes and I think this is a conversation we need to have," said Anderson. 

Despite the obstacles that veterans face and the impact that the end of the Afghanistan war had on the veteran community, Anderson says the image with the phoenix is meant to represent hope. 

"All these veterans are still warriors, and we can rise and we can still be servants to our community," said Anderson. "We can still be protectors and warriors in our home. This isn't the end and we're not stuck with these mental health and cost of war issues."

Alderman says plans are already in place for next year's ArtPrize. 

She says she will coach veterans who want to create an art piece. 

If you are a veteran interested in working on an art project, you can contact Alderman at pamela@pamelaalderman.com.