KATTERBACH, Germany (Dec. 19, 2013) -- The Von Steuben Community Center was transformed into an art studio Dec. 13 as members of the Ansbach community donned aprons and brandished paintbrushes to help enliven the environments in which the transitioning warriors of the U.S. Army heal and receive care.
The event was made possible through the Atlanta-based nonprofit Foundation for Hospital Art, the volunteers of which have made previous trips to U.S. military installations in Germany including Landstuhl, Grafenwohr, Vilseck and Garmisch.
"We go around the world, painting with the public and involving the public in creating art for hospitals, health care facilities, schools, homeless shelters -- anywhere where somebody needs care," said Scott Feight, executive director of the foundation. "We've been doing projects with warrior transition units in different locations, and this was an opportunity to come here and do this."
From an art standpoint, the process is simple, Feight said. Members of the foundation draw a design on each panel and place a small dot of color in each area on the design. Later, during the painting session, participants devote their time, attention and talent to the paintings. The list of colorful subjects included tulips, birds, dogs, elephants and frogs.
Once finished, the related paintings are combined to make six-set mosaics, after which each mosaic is designated to hang in one of the health care facilities in the USAG Ansbach community. Feight said one of his goals is to bring hope to places where suffering and depression can encroach on the very people who are trying to heal.
But it's not only about those on the receiving end of the art; the process is designed to benefit the participants too.
"Some people use the word 'therapy' or 'art therapy,' and some people are able to express things through art. I think that's important, but I don't try to get too scientific about it," Feight said. "I just think that when you paint, it takes you to a place where you realize you can help others. I think that is a part of healing in and of itself."
The participants included Soldiers from C and B companies of the Warrior Transition Battalion-Europe, along with warriors in transition assigned to their own units who are working through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System. Joining the warriors in transition were fellow Soldiers, family members and civilians from different pockets of the Ansbach community -- including members of American Legion David Chavez Post 1982.
Feight said his organization gets positive feedback from those who work on the art and from those who use the health care facilities where the pieces of art hang.
"They're just great projects," he said. "You also get a lot of appreciation from the people who provide care. They appreciate it because it also helps their environment. People want to see what they hope to see on the outside. It can change a depressing situation into one that's positive."
According to Sgt. 1st Class Branden Davenport, platoon sergeant and platoon leader for C Company, WTB-E, the timing of the event was perfect because the Soldiers were finishing up "a really hectic week." Davenport emphasized that the event was also particularly beneficial because many of the Soldiers are in the midst of significant transition in their lives while they undergo the healing process.
"They need an outlet, and some of them have never needed that outlet in their lives," Davenport added. "A lot of people, just by doing this simple activity, end up benefiting."
"It's a good team-building activity as well," said Andrea Russell, USAG Ansbach Soldier and Family Assistance Center specialist who organized and led the event from USAG Ansbach's end. "There are some newer people to the unit, so it's a nice, relaxed environment that people can sit down in and get to know each other. With the American Legion and other support staff, it's a good environment for people to sit down and just chat, and not have an agenda necessarily -- just get to know each other."
From the point of view of Alanee LaFleur, occupational therapy assistant for C and B companies of the WTB-E, this scope of activity increases the Soldiers' resilience and self-esteem.
"They have an immediate project," she said. "The way everything is set up, it's structured so well that everyone is successful at the end of the day."
Feight, who has been the executive director of the Foundation for Hospital Art since 2010 and whose father founded the organization in 1984, is no stranger to the kind of positive feedback offered by LaFleur, Davenport and Russell; however, he's also no stranger to the Army. In fact, Feight graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., as an aviation officer in 1991 -- the same year as Col. Vincent Torza, the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade commander.
"Being a veteran myself, I want to not only give back to the Soldiers, but also give them an avenue to give back to others," Feight said. "I think it's important that we be outstanding citizens on top of being outstanding Soldiers. I think that our mission as an Army is so important that we can't do enough good things to help the Army outside of what we do."
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