ST. CLOUD, Fla. – The Central Florida Veteran Artists held its first art show at McCormick Research Institute in St. Cloud.
The event featured food trucks, music, kid’s activities and giveaways.
News 6 recently recognized the McCormick Research Institute with the News 6 Getting Results Award for their equestrian therapy program for veterans dealing with PTSD.
“We are honored to gift our facility to these great people that are still in the fight to heal their trauma,” Carlton Davidson, director of Operations & Veterans Engagement at McCormick Research Institute wrote in an email.
A few months ago, a group of local veteran artists got together and formed “CFVA,” Central Florida Veteran Artists. Their mission is to share their works of art with the community and help other veteran artists get out and interact with other like-minded veterans.
“We decided to put a package together that would allow artists to come together and just express themselves,” said Marine veteran Leason Beckford. “You meet veterans who have never showed their work before. They have different ways of expressing themselves and different ideas.”
Artists representing a range of mediums displayed their work in and around the stables and covered arena at the equestrian center.
The work included fine art, wood crafting, sculpting, leather crafting, photography, digital media and more.
Eladio Chavez Jr. brought a variety of his work.
“This is just a common way to exchange information and ideas,” Chavez said of the collective. “I’m so impressed with everyone’s art. Everyone here has so much talent.”
Chavez said the main idea is to focus on the art but acknowledges that most find some type of therapy in their craft.
“I think each of these pieces carries a different symbolism as to why I did them,” Chavez continued. “The emotions that came out while I was doing them.”
Photographer Morgan Laisch served in the Marines.
“I got into photography as a way to express myself and then to deal with my PTSD,” Laisch said. “When I go on photo shoots, mostly out in nature, I find it’s relaxing and calm.”
“McCormick has been amazing,” Laisch said. “They’ve made sure we have everything we need.”
Some of the artists present:
Leason Beckford Jr. - U.S. Marine Veteran- Digital Mixed Media
Eladio Chavez - U.S. Marine Veteran - Musician, Portrait, Landscape, Mixed Media
Jose Belen - (Vet Basel) U.S. Army Veteran - Custom Wood Flag Art, Mixed Media
Carlos Grisales - U.S. Army Veteran- Chalk Art, Landscape
Morgan Laisch - U.S. Marine Veteran - Photography, Mixed Media
Luigi Rosa - U.S. Navy Veteran - Musician, Portrait, Landscape Mixed Media
Mick Lum - U.S. Marine Veteran - Custom Leather Crafter
Toshua Mallery - U.S. Navy Veteran - Custom Craft Work
Bob Tessier - U.S. Army Veteran - Custom Wood Crafter
Bridget Lake - U.S. Navy Veteran - Photography
Central Florida Veteran Artists are continuing to build their membership.
You can contact them through their Facebook page.