National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships
HAP Partnership Impact
Veterans find peace and comfort through the arts with the Patriot Art Foundation
Ms. Mary Whyte, an American figurative artist, founded the Patriot Art Foundation in 2019 to honor and inspire Veterans through the arts and educate the public about patriotism and leadership in military culture.
“The idea for the foundation came about when the exhibition WE THE PEOPLE: Portraits of Veterans in America went up, and the response I received from Veterans,” Ms. Whyte said. “It was clear to me that art can tell a story in a way you can't with words.”
The foundation recently expanded to include the Patriot Art Project, which offers free online drawing, photography, and painting classes through the William Jennings Bryan Dorn U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Columbia, South Carolina. Participants receive art supplies for these classes, and the goal of the project is to provide Veterans with the necessary tools and atmosphere to express their unique stories and create connections with other Veterans in the art community.
“I can honestly say that after every class, I feel lighter...less burdened, and I don't think I've gone through a class that I haven't taken away some form of growth,” Ms. Oliver said.
Research shows that art may positively impact Veterans’ Whole Health and mental health. Since taking art classes through the foundation, a Vietnam Veteran described the experience to Ms. Whyte as therapeutic because painting and drawing help put him at ease.
Whole Health is an approach to care centered around what is important to the individual based on their values, needs, and goals. Creative outlets—such as painting, drawing, and photography—allow people to express thoughts that are otherwise difficult to say out loud, improve their social relationships, and manage challenging emotions. VA services and resources that can support Veterans’ Whole Health include Circle of Health information, well-being programs, creative art therapies, and mental health resources.
“I could relate [the art] to my life because there were so many days that I felt lost, useless, forgotten, and damaged just like my first oil pastel drawing,” said Veteran Kristin Halbert. “The Patriot Art Foundation and Mary Whyte helped me to find the beauty in any damage that I have felt in life.” If you would like to help or learn more about the foundation, please visit their website for more information: https://www.patriotartfoundation.org/.
VHA’s National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships (HAP) supports organizations like this and others. To learn more about HAP, visit www.va.gov/healthpartnerships.
External Link Disclaimer: This page contains links that will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.
Posted February 2, 2022
