Syracuse veterans are reaping the benefits of art therapy

Jillian Schumacher: Syracuse veterans are using arts as a means of therapy. Helping them to celebrate the recovery and progress made through art. Richard Rodriguez, a former army paratrooper, has utilized art to cope with his p-t-s-d. Rodriguez now owns an art gallery called the Sargeporium, located in downtown Syracuse. Rodriguez says being able to put a picture of his pain through art has helped his mental health. 

Rodriguez: It reflects your mood; it can reflect where you want to be, it can reflect your journey of getting there, it can reflect where you are at.

Schumacher: Suzanne Hawes and Erin Popcun work at the VA hospital in the recreation department. Hawes says art allows the veterans in her facility to comfortably express how they feel.

Hawes: Sometimes people aren’t as comfortable verbally expressing their anxiety and depression, anything that concerns them and art is a great way for them to express themselves.

Schumacher: Popcun says the VA facility allows people to be around others who understand them. 

Popcun: Trauma and different things in their lives, military services or home life. But when they come to the VA, they can be around people who understand them.

Schumacher: the Everson Museum of Art has partnered with the Veteran Affairs Medical Center. To showcase the veterans’ art from the Syracuse veteran’s creative arts festival in the museum. Rodriquez has one of his pieces hanging in the Everson. And he says whether we’re at war or in conflict. It’s not going to stop the beauty of the world, and he shows that through his art. Jill Schumacher n-c-c news.