“Things We Carried,” a traveling exhibit from the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum in Chicago, opens Nov. 15 in the Main Gallery of the Access to The Arts, opening the second annual Healing Arts program sponsored by the SUNY Fredonia Carnahan Jackson Humanities Fund. The exhibit can be seen Monday sand Wednesday from10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.
The exhibit continues through Dec. 13, and is the first of several events in the Healing Arts program which is coordinated by Drs. Sandra Vedovato, a psychologist in the Dunkirk/Fredonia community, John Miga, commander of the American Legion, and Bruce Klonsky of SUNY Fredonia.
All events, which include refreshments and opportunities for discussion and conversation, will be held at the Access to the Arts Adams Art Gallery throughout November and December, and are open to the public.
Vietnam Veteran artist Ralph Sirianni will speak at the opening reception planned for Nov. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. Sirianni is a creative arts therapist at the Buffalo Veterans Administration Medical Center, a teacher of portraiture and caricature, a news courtroom artist and police sketch artist. His work is included in the traveling exhibit. His website is sirianniart.com.
Robert Holland will offer a presentation on Dec. 1 called “Earth, Wind Power and Fire” from 6 to 8 p.m. as part of the traveling exhibit. Holland is also a Vietnam Veteran, artist, author and videographer. He was a psychological specialist during the military and is currently pursuing the promotion of optimal human-environment relationships.
On December 7, Pearl Harbor Day, from 5 to 8 p.m., a “Missing Soldiers Ceremony, Tributes and Memorials,” presented by the Chautauqua County Veterans’ Service Agency is planned. For this final event, local veterans and active military personnel are encouraged to help with organization, attend, or gather photographs with names for a tribute memorial and video display planned during the event. At the event, resources for veterans will be provided by local Veterans Service Organizations and Veteran’s Affairs Offices. A “K-Rations versus Mom’s Apple Pie” reception will be included.
For more information or to become involved, contact Dr. Vedovato at 672-5088 or Bruce Klonsky at 716-673-3892.
