Glimpse Into the Mind of a U.S. Military Veteran

Life Through The Eyes Of A Veteran

July 22nd, 2011 - A solemn image of a worn pair of military boots that have seen many days of war. Military dog tags of thousands of servicemen and women turned into a glimmering chandelier of light. A man down in the sand. If you want to get a glimpse into the mind of a U.S. military veteran, all you have to do is turn to the art in the National Veterans Art Museum (NVAM) in Chicago's South Loop neighborhood.

The almost 30 year-old museum has reinvented itself a few times over the years as it has grown to feature more than 2,000 paintings, sculptures and other pieces of artwork from various U.S. wars, including WW2 and the Korean and Persian Gulf conflicts. More than 255 artists have contributed to the NVAM collection. Formerly known as the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum, officials dropped the Vietnam distinction in January 2010 to create opportunities for more of the nation's servicemen and women.

"By taking out the Vietnam in our name, it opened us up to be more inclusive to veterans of other U.S. military conflicts and even more importantly, to the active military; the men and women who are currently serving, whether it's in Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq or other areas where we are fighting the war on terrorism," said NVAM Executive Director Levi Moore. "It also opened us up to people that will patronize and support the museum. We haven't forgotten our roots with Vietnam, but we're way more inclusive. And we have to be more contemporary if we're going to be viable in the next decade." read more>>>