Paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture by professional artists who are veterans, as well as veterans enrolled in the Bihl Haus “Forward, Arts!” program, are featured in “Beyond Service II: An Exhibition of Artworks by Military Veterans," that opens with a reception.

It continues through Dec. 19. The reception, which is free and open to the public, includes live poolside music by Los Cocos and light appetizers and libations.

Organized by participating artists Cody Vance (Army, ret.) and David Guerrero, a Vietnam veteran, the exhibition features works by Ed Cody, Kenneth Colmere, Eduardo Cavazos Garza, Ann Gonzalez, Katherine Hopkins, Ruth McIntosh, Ben Ortiz, David Peche, Patrick Putze, Joseph Rogers, Mark Winter and Ellen Zajic.

The exhibition also highlights works by veterans currently or previously enrolled in the Bihl Haus Forward, Arts! program: Grace Bermudez, Dan Gamez, Passka Prowell, Fermin Gutierrez, Kim Guidry, Helen Tiseth and Nancy Williams-Sykes. Many of these artists are being featured on the Bihl Haus Facebook page.

“The artworks in this exhibition have been created by veterans who have served in various branches of the military during the Vietnam War and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Kellen McIntyre, Bihl Haus Arts executive director. “These veteran artists have been recognized with valor and meritorious awards and numerous service ribbons.”

Forward, Arts!

In 2018, Bihl Haus Arts launched an innovative program, “Forward, Arts!” offering professionally taught drawing and painting classes to veterans who are experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and/or depression.  The mission of the program is to offer veterans opportunities for healing, wellness and community through the arts.

The need for veteran services in San Antonio is great, McIntyre explained. More than 2.6 million veterans have served in the Middle East since 9/11. Each year 7,000 service members, 15% of them women, transition out of the military at Joint Base San Antonio.  More than half decide to stay in Bexar County. Overall, an estimated three in 10 have PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or major depression. During the past two years, more active service men and women have lost their lives from suicide than from combat. Each day, 22 American vets end their own lives. BHA’s new Forward, Arts! program aims to help ease veterans’ emotional and physical pains through arts immersion.

Today, Forward, Arts! offers four classes each week that serve 50 veterans, with more classes on the way in Spring 2022. Participants are referred by BHA’s collaborating partners, Vet TRIPP (Veterans Team Recovery Integrative Immersion Process, http://www.vettriip.org/), The Pink Berets of Boerne and Endeavors from veterans served through their programs.

The potential for healing that comes through hands-on, creative engagement with the arts—in this case, painting and drawing—is proven. BHA’s pilot class in 2018 was a pioneering endeavor in San Antonio that emerged from national military initiatives in the arts and BHA’s nationally recognized arts program for older adults.

Almost 15 years ago, recognition of the healing potential of the arts across the military continuum drove the creation of two initiatives—the National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military led by Americans for the Arts (AFTA), and the Creative Forces network initiated by the National Endowment for the Arts. The latter has reached out to state art agencies, including the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA).