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The production phase of the Veterans Mural Project has begun.

On April 30th local artists gathered at the Connections building at Tatnall and 8th streets to trace the mural design on sections of cloth. That’s a clever process using an old technology: overhead projectors. Play the video below to see how it’s done. In June the sections will be taken to the mural site, 901 Washington Street, and glued to the north wall, then coated with a weather-resistant, clear sealant.

The second step in the production phase took place April 23rd,

when Eric worked with local volunteers to pre-mix all the colors needed for the mural, well over 100! Several young photography students under the leadership of Theresa Emmett were on hand to document the fun. As you see by the photographs, mixing and matching color can get very messy!

The next step in production will be open exclusively to veterans and their families. On Saturday, May 7th

they will have the honor of initiating the painting of the mural’s cloth panels. This will take place rain or shine inside the Connections building. No experience is necessary. Old clothes are recommended!

With the help of local artists and veterans, mural artist, Eric Okdeh, is completing the design of a mural honoring veterans, developed by the Wilmington Renaissance Corporation. It will adorn the north wall of 901 Washington Street in Wilmington Delaware. That building now houses military veterans who were previously homeless.

On March 30th veterans, artists, and neighbors gathered at the Connections building at the corner of West and 8th streets to preview a digital rendition of the mural design. Although most of the design is ready for production, Eric is still inviting input from veterans in two ways:

1. Words of wisdom: What advice or words of wisdom would you relay to a returning veteran today, that you wish someone would have said to you when you were transitioning back to civilian life?

2. A photo that holds sentimental value for you and chronicles the day to day experiences of the military life which you remember. All photographers will get credit for their contribution. Eric is reserving a section of the mural to display these photos. Email digital photos or bring non-digital ones to the Connections building during one of the Community Paint Days listed below. Your paper or film photo will be scanned and returned immediately to you in person.

Vets, if you would like to participate in either way, please send your statement/photo to Eric: okdehmurals at gmail.com; or Laura Semmelroth: laura at bigideaswilmington.com.

Community Paint Days at the Connections Building, West and 8th streets:

The mural will be painted inside on sections of fabric which later will be glued to the wall at 901 Washington Street. If you would like to participate in the painting, show up during one or more of the following times. (No experience is required.)

Saturday, May 7th, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.–This day is especially participation by veterans and their family members.

Wednesday, May 11thto 8:00 p.m, 3:00 .–Painting by all community members.

Saturday, May 14th, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.–Painting by all community members.

The installation of the painted sections will take place from June 1 to June 10. More details about that will follow in an upcoming post.

— TCDavis

IVW welcomes two new veteran members, Bill Brown and Dana Lewis, who participate in a local veterans group that uses mindfulness meditation to reduce stress. Dana writes,

“A small group of vets at the Wilmington VA, have recently started a website called “Mindful Veterans Connection“.  I put it together and run it and it is in its infancy as a website. I invite you to check it out and please feel free to join and participate. Many vets have found great help in the mindful meditation and mindfulness practices. Our group are all Vets, most of us combat vets, all with some sort of chronic condition.

We all graduated from an 8 week VA mindfulness course (MBSR, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) at the Wilmington VA and we meet weekly to meditate and talk about uses of the MBSR techniques and insights in coping with everything from depression to Agent Orange.

We recently opened up our site to any interested Veteran, as we are all convinced of the power of what we’ve learned to help Vets returning from war.”

Dana adds:  “Your group [IVW} is a wonderful idea and I hope we can be of some help as you grow it. I myself am a former Catholic (spent time as a monk years ago) who might now be called an almost-Buddhist Jesusian :}. I do not follow any of the formal schools of Buddhism, but prefer the psychology and practice wisdom of what is called “Engaged Buddhism” as taught by Thich Nhat Hanh, whose work was behind the development of MBSR 30+ years ago. I am drawn to the common points where all spiritual traditions intersect, so I really like what you are doing.

The First Presbyterian Church of Milford, Delaware is about to start a Bible study group for veterans. If anyone has favorite resources or would like to participate, please contact the Rev. Donna Bowers,  bowcom at comcast.net.

 

The Veterans’ Freedom Mural Project

IVW, Delaware’s Interfaith Veterans Workgroup, is helping the Veterans Freedom Mural Project by sharing with local artists their memories of what it was like to go to war and come home. A mural reflecting such memories will be painted on the north facing wall of Marcella’s House, a 31-unit veterans residential facility at 901-903 Washington Street in Wilmington, owned by the Connections Community Support Program, Inc. Connections and Creative District Wilmington are partnering in this first project of the Public Art Prep Program. The goal of PPAP is not just to produce beautiful art in public places, but to enhance the skills of local artists and build community by involving local citizens in making art.

The leader of the Veterans’ Freedom Mural Project

The leader of the Veterans Freedom Mural is a well known Philadelphia artist, Eric Okdeh. After receiving his BFA in painting from the Tyler School of Art, Eric chose to focus on public art exclusively. He has taught mural making classes to children and teens, as well as inmates at SCI Graterford Prison. Eric has over eighty public art commissions in Philadelphia, and has trained and led community artists in mural painting in Wailuku, Hawaii; Seville, Spain, and Amman, Jordan. His work is featured in seven books about public and mural art.

Eric’s method doesn’t involve painting directly on walls, but rather, on fabric similar to parachute cloth, cut into many sections. These sections can be painted indoors, which is a great advantage considering Delaware weather! After the sections are completed they will be glued to the building surface, the wrinkles will be smoothed out, and a clear, protective covering will be applied to the entire surface. Sound fun? If you would like to participate, contact the Interfaith Veterans’ Workgroup using the Contact tab on this website.

A Sacred Journey to True Freedom

As I think about the name, “Veterans Freedom Mural”, I remember two Vietnam vets who didn’t make it home as I did. Eric Taylor, an across-the-street boyhood friend, and Johnny Rucker, a member of my Boy Scout Raven patrol. Their names appear at the bottom of the Vietnam War memorial in Brandywine Park. Speech makers often remark that servicemen and women are prepared to give their lives, as Eric and John did, to preserve freedom. It also should be said that for vets who do make it back “to the world”, getting free of burdens that weigh on their hearts and minds and souls can be equally as trying as making war. So, as my home town prepares to honor veterans with a Freedom Mural, this returning warrior is grateful for an opportunity to take up a brush alongside others, showing with our hands and hearts that really coming home isn’t easy, and that warriors’ burdens are lightened when we work together, honoring the sacredness of a journey to true freedom.

— TCDavis