Vet News: Artists selected for nationwide women Veterans art exhibit

WASHINGTON — Ten women Veteran artists have been selected to showcase their work at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers around the country in March, to coincide with Women’s History Month.

“It is our hope that this exhibit will provide insight into the diverse experiences of women who serve our country, through their respective lenses,” said Director of VA’s Center for Women Veterans Kayla Williams. “This effort to enhance the awareness of those who serve women Veterans — in VA and in the public — will contribute to improving how they are regarded when they come to VA for care and benefits, and how they are treated in their communities.” 

The call for artwork resulted in over 400 submissions from women Veterans around the country. Storyboards featuring images of their art, along with photos of the women in and out of uniform and brief biographies, will be displayed at:

Beckley VA Medical Center, Beckley, West Virginia
W. G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center, Salisbury, North Carolina
Atlanta VA Medical Center, Atlanta
James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Mountain Home, Tennessee
Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center, Topeka, Kansas
Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago
Southeast Louisiana Healthcare System, New Orleans, Louisiana
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston
Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center, Spokane, Washington
North Las Vegas VA Medical Center, Las Vegas

The 10 women Veteran artists selected to display their works and autobiographical storyboards in the exhibit are:

Victoria R. Bryers, United States Coast Guard
Pamela Corwin, United States Army
Amy Forsythe, United States Marine Corps
Natalie Lopez, United States Air Force
Cara Myhre, United States Army
Debra Russell, United States Navy
Deveon Sudduth, United States Army
Laura Taylor, United States Navy
Stacey Thompson, United States Marine Corps and
Lindsay Zike, United States Navy

The Women Veterans Art Exhibit initiative is the result of a collaboration between the Center for Women Veterans, Veteran Artist Program, First Data, and the Veterans Canteen Service. These partnerships allow for the temporary displays to be shown in these facilities at no cost to VA. For more information about VA’s benefits and services for women Veterans and this initiative, visit www.va.gov/womenvet.

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