SAIC Alum Helps Veterans Heal through Art
Richard Casper (BFA 2012), a Marine and Iraq War veteran, founded CreatiVets in 2013 to give disabled veterans the opportunity to engage with art, music, and creative writing as forms of therapy for combat-related trauma. This summer, Casper led a three-week intensive at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago called Intro to Art for Veterans. The six students, veterans from around the United States, will be exhibiting their work in the LeRoy Neiman Center, 37 South Wabash Avenue, on Friday, June 12. from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Ana Sekler (MA 2016) provides an in depth look at the program, Casper's aspirations, and his students' experiences.
Kyla Gardner interviewed Casper and his students for DNAinfo. "I want a place that, instead of going to the bar and drinking, [veterans] go to the art studio and just do art," Casper says.
Image: DNAinfo/Kyla Gardner
In celebration of alum Georgia O’Keeffe: My New Yorks opening current SAIC students were invited to submit artworks inspired by O’keeffe and the city of Chicago.
An image from the exhibition opening of “My Chicagos: SAIC Students Honor Georgia O’Keeffe.”