At the Durham VA, veterans are using the transformative power of art to work through PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. This year, nine veterans from the Durham VA achieved national recognition by placing in the VA’s National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, held in Colorado. The festival features a diverse range of competitions, from dance and music to drama, creative writing, and visual arts. Veterans must first win at their local VAs to qualify for the national event.
Martine Bullard, an acute care music therapist at the Durham VA Health Care System, underscores the importance of this creative outlet. “Being able to make their art helps them step away from the negativity they’re facing and maybe find some peace,” Bullard explained.
Vietnam War veteran Terri Dellapina has long turned to art to address her PTSD, military sexual trauma, anxiety, and other struggles. Her most recent work is a fabric collage that symbolically captures her mental health journey. “These are small bubbles representing being underwater and struggling to breathe when you feel overwhelmed by emotions,” Dellapina said, describing her piece. She shared that selecting and working with fabrics has become a meditative process, allowing her to “escape and feel a sense of independence.”
Marine Corps veteran Jeremiah Caudill has also found solace through his artistic pursuits. “When I started my treatment, I used art as a way to get out of my head and shift my focus away from the things weighing me down,” Caudill said, noting how creating art helped him move forward.
Navy veteran Dolores Clark, a vocalist who has performed at seven national festivals, values the connections formed through these events. “I don’t often share my personal experiences because they’ve been so hard to live with,” Clark said. “But when I’m at a festival and connect with other veterans, it helps release some of the PTSD that lingers in the background.”
These veterans are now encouraging others to explore the arts as a form of therapy. Their stories highlight the power of creative expression to foster healing, and they continue to inspire fellow service members to find peace and community through artistic outlets. More details about the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival can be found through the Durham VA.
Stay tuned to Bull City Citizen for more uplifting stories of resilience and healing in our community.
