Art In The Capitol Showcasing Maine Veteran Artists

Presented by the Maine Arts Commission and The VA Maine Healthcare Systems-Togus

 AUGUSTA, The Maine Arts Commission is honored to showcase Veteran made artwork now on display at the State Capitol Complex from September 30 through December 2021. The Veteran exhibition is part of the Art in the Capitol program which partners annually with the VA Maine Healthcare System-Togus. The purpose is to recognize Veteran’s service, showcases individual artwork, and encourage creative pursuits for all former and current Maine service members. 

The Veteran art exhibition can be viewed from the north and south wings of the Burton Cross Building located east of the Maine State House. Each piece is accompanied with an artist story or personal reflection on the creative process of each Veteran. 

In his painting Self Portrait, artist Michael Tilbury says “I create because I need to express my stories. Stories of what I’ve gone through, stories of healing and suffering, universal truths that make us human and connect us.” 

Daryne Rockett, who served as a Korean linguist in the Air Force, is showcasing "Nebula," her acrylic painting on cradled birch. She began working in visual art after sustaining a brain injury in 2014. She says her artistic expression is “a means of healing from injury, finding peace within myself, and connecting with others.” 

The Togus facility provides a variety of outpatient and adaptive therapy programs for Maine’s Veteran population including visual arts, poetry, and performance. The therapy is individualized, incorporating a Veteran's past, present, and future interests with their lifestyle. Weaving the concept of healthy living into treatment ensures improved functioning, enhanced independence, and successful involvement in all aspects of life. The goal is to promote lifelong health and well-being through regular participation in meaningful leisure pursuits, regardless of the disability. 

In 2016, legislation was passed in Maine designating every first of November as Veterans in the Arts and Humanities Appreciation Day. It is the hope of the Maine Arts Commission and the VA Maine Healthcare System-Togus that every Veteran feels they have a place to promote their art, no matter their skill level. 

The Maine Arts Commission encourages people to support these artists who have served by purchasing their artwork and putting it on display. If interested in purchasing artwork, contact Courtney Oliver at courtney.oliver@va.gov

        You can also like them on Facebook: VA Maine Healthcare System

        For more information on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, please visit: www.va.gov

        For more information on the Maine Arts Commission, please visit: mainearts.com