In 2010, the American Healing Arts Foundation serves U.S. veterans by providing free art classes (supplies included) with an even bigger goal of building the Veterans Academy of Art.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains high for both wounded and uninjured soldiers, plus the divorce and suicide rates continues to soar. These classes provide art therapy giving veterans the ability to interact with award-winning art instructors, witness their own creative side, the opportunity for an art career and exercise the power of rehabilitation. These classes are also intended to reunite veterans with their fellow vets, away from hospitals and the battlefield, and everyday stress in a peaceful environment.
Nationally, 107,000 of homeless are veterans and the state of Arizona has 600,000 homeless veterans. It is estimated that 7,490, or seven percent of the homeless population, are women. It is projected that this seven percent of homeless women is expected to grow to ten percent in the next five years as the role of women in the military has changed from nursing and administration to combat and the front lines. Eighty percent of those returning from war have TBI. U.S. veterans desperately need the support of our society and foundations like AHAF.
Army veteran and stroke victim, Winston Howell was a loner for more than six years with the use of only one hand. Judi Combs, Founder of AHAF, contacted Hal Stewart and asked if it is possible for someone to sculpt with one hand. Hal quickly responded ?Absolutely!? Incredibly, Hal chose to teach the class using only one hand. Hal suggested Winston take clay home to work the inoperable hand. Later, Winston reported feeling tingling in his left hand, Winston is AHAF?s first success story.
This year Judi Combs is joined by her daughter Kim Bulot. Bulot pointed out "the success of AHAF has soared with more U.S. veterans, more classes, and more art instructors. Two licensed art therapists have joined, taking art to a deeper level. The success stories for 2011 were many.
The American Healing Arts Foundation is asking the public to get involved by helping get the word out to U.S. veterans about free classes in Arizona. It has been a phenomenal year, with growth beyond our expectation. More volunteer support is needed and monetary contributions are accepted with great appreciation. The Foundation is also looking for grant writers willing to donate their time; the foundation does not want to turn away any veterans due to insufficient funding.
New classes include glass jewelry making, cartoon graphics, dance lessons, horse therapy and riding instruction. Additional 10 week art classes are held annually at the Arizona Fine Art EXPO, located at 26540 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ. Weekly classes begin mid-January and run through March. Many award-winning instructors teach a variety of mediums such as: painting, sketching, encaustic wax painting, silk painting, metal welding, clay sculpting, stone carving, wood sculpting and art therapy.
For more information, call Kim 480-717-9888. Let us know if we can accommodate you with personal interviews with art instructors, art therapists or veterans along with any photos requests.
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