The VIV Art Show has been postponed due to the coronavirus crisis and will be rescheduled for a later date.
The Veterans Inspirational Art Show features:
Three prizes will be awarded on behalf of an Independent Curator to the artists and one prize will be judged by the guests.
Are you a veteran artist? Fill out our application to have your original art featured at this year's show!
VIV is working in a partnership with Northern Michigan for Veterans, Inc, (Non-Profit). A small group of combat veterans came together in February 2019, in Traverse City, with a mission to empower and support veterans.
We will create projects, arrange events, or simply help a veteran who needs a hand. We take no money, and 100% of what we do, say, and earn will go towards the veterans we serve. We are giving back to the community, by supporting those who have sacrificed so very much for our country.
Veterans Inspiring Veterans (VIV) is working in a partnership with Northern Michigan for Veterans, Inc, (Non-Profit). A small group of combat veterans came together in February 2019, in Traverse City, with a mission to empower and support veterans.
We are actively meeting now and starting to plan another art show although at this time we are not able to set a date due to the ongoing Covid pandemic. Rest assured as information becomes available you will be able to find it here. In the mean time keep on enjoying the art from some of our veterans.
veteransinspiringveterans“Paint River”
Oil pastel on watercolor paper
Painting size: 22 x 30
Veteran Artist, Jerry Gates
United States Army
Inspired by a fishing trip to the upper peninsula.
Just so you can be aware that VIV is not just about art. It is using art as a means to help veterans in need. Following is an accounting of how we have spend money in the last year:
HOW WE HAVE ALLOCATED NMV4 and VIV FUNDS TO DATE
5 FEB 2021
General information: NM4V is dedicated to fulfilling those veteran needs that are not available through the VA, through the state of Michigan or from other purpose built veterans organizations. As an approved 501. (3) (c), NM4V partnered with Veterans Inspiring Veterans (VIV) to administer the funds raised during their 2019 Art Show. This document detail how those VIV funds were distributed:
Dental support for veterans. One of the most significant problems for aging veterans on a fixed income is their ability to secure dental care. Unlike medical treatment, VA rules for provision of dental care are extraordinarily restrictive. To qualify, the veteran must be 100% disabled or the dental work required must be as a direct result of combat injuries. NM4V has partnered with Northwest Michigan Health Services and Great Lakes Oral Surgery to secure dental treatment. Actual dental work is provided pro bono while NM4V allocates funds to pay for dental appliances. $2,814.00 has been spent to address veteran dental needs to date.
Car Repair: For a retired veteran on a fixed income or a working veteran earning minimum wage, a major car repair is a disaster. It can prevent a veteran from getting to work and is can limit an aging
veteran from being able to make medical appointments or buy food. NM4V and VIV have partnered with a number of generous mechanics in the area who have agreed to repair veteran’s vehicles at
greatly reduced rates or cost of parts. $1057.00
Housing: Homelessness is a chronic veteran problem. Unexpected bills can lead to nonpayment of rentand eviction. $443 has been paid out to assist a veteran to avoid eviction.
Reigning Liberty Ranch: Reigning Liberty Ranch is a 501 C (3) that provides a welcoming meeting place for veterans. Many veterans suffering from PTSD discover healing through work with horses and the quiet of ranch life. $2500.
Transportation: For many veterans the opportunity to have a military funeral to honor their service is critical. Nearly all military funeral support is provided by the various veteran organizations in the area
at no cost to the family. All costs are borne by the veteran organization. VA support is minimal. To travel to the many locations where funerals are held, these veterans used an aging and unreliable van.
NM4V/VIV provided financial support for this cause. With the help of other military organizations and a local car dealer, the Cherryland VFW was able to secure a reliable van for funeral support. $3,000
Grand Traverse County Veterans Coalition: NM4V works to fill support gaps and to partner with other veteran organizations to ensure that local veterans needs are met. The Grand Traverse Country
Veterans Coalition acts as a clearing house to address those needs. NM4V/VIV provided $1500 so that the GTCVC could directly help the veteran community.
Veteran Housing Project: $5,000 has been set aside to support the Charlie Golf One initiative to address chronic housing problems for veterans in the area. While unspent, this money will be used as
seed money to jumpstart the project and address long term housing needs of veterans in NW Michigan.
Art Show Prize Money: $600 has been expanded to provide cash awards to veteran VIV Art Show participants.
Art Show Future Expenses: $10,000 has been set aside to address startup costs associated with the next VIV veterans art show. Because the COVID epidemic resulted in the rescheduling of the 2020 art
show to an unspecified future date, it was felt prudent to earmark these funds to ensure that the next VIV Art Show receives the necessary funding.
Robert Walton is a veteran from South Carolina. I will let his bio speak for itself:
After college I went into the army reserve and was deployed to Saudi during operation Desert Shield. In 1994 I transferred to active duty and served until January 2001. After 9/11 I reenlisted with the NC Army National Guard. In 2004 I was deployed to Iraq again for 18 months doing bridges and construction. In 2006 I reenlisted and in 2007 was deployed to Iraq as part of a route clearance team. During the battle of Sadre City I was wounded and suffered a TBI (traumatic brain injury). After coming home I struggled trying to reenter civilian life and was diagnosed with PTSD/TBI. I was retired out of the military in Sept. 2012. In 2017 after attending a wine and paint class I fell in love with painting. First it was acrylics and then in 2020 I switched to oils and never looked back. I love landscapes and seascapes and I find that when I am painting I am not thinking about all of the trauma. I can just use my imagination and be free!
