The Red Wing Arts Association and Paul Riedner Create Minnesota Veterans Art Experience

The Red Wing Arts Association has teamed up with Paul Riedner to create the Minnesota Veterans Art Experience (MVAE), a series of free art events for vets across the state. Riedner is an Iraq War Veteran who returned to civilian life in 2010 and found that creative expression helped him in the transition.

Application deadlines are looming for these rare creative experiences. Minnesota press, please share the good news about these unique opportunities for all military veterans across the state.

Veterans Art Retreat will be held May 19-24 at the Villa Marie Retreat and Conference Center, near Red Wing. This event offers veterans six days surrounded by the scenic setting of the Frontenac State Park. Coordinated facilitators will lead workshops in painting, writing, photography, music, film and other mediums, depending on the interests of the veterans who apply. The retreat is free to the first 40 applicants. There is still plenty of room. Application deadline is April 1.

Veteran Artist Gallery Show, May 3-June 22, will be hosted by the Red Wing Depot Gallery. This is a juried art show and open to all Minnesota veterans with creative expressions across any medium. Applications are open through April 1.

Veteran Print Project will be displayed at the Gallery Show. Yvette Pino, Director of the Veteran Print Project, will work with the 20 selected veterans to match them and their stories with a print artist who will create a "Pict-oral" history of each veteran's narrative.

Community Events, May June, held in Red Wing include a series of open-to-the-public events. Major General John Borling will discuss his poems published in "Taps on the Wall: Poems from the Hanoi Hilton." Patrick Dewane's one-man show, "The Accidental Hero Coincidence, War, Self-Discovery and Family," shares the story of his grandfather's war experience. More details to come.

Applications for the Veterans Retreat and Gallery Show are available online at redwingartsassociation.org or by contacting Red Wing Arts Association at info@rwarts.org or call 651.388.7569.

About the Minnesota Veterans Art Experience

The Minnesota Veterans Art Experience is a unique set of events started with an idea from Paul Riedner. Riedner is an Iraq war Veteran who returned to civilian life in 2010. He found that experimenting with various forms of art gave him valuable outlets for expression. He believes creative outlets can help bridge the stark divide that so many veterans experience when navigating from a life of service in wartime to a civilian life.

During a visit with his Red Wing high school guidance counselor, Dan Guida, who is now the Executive Director of the Red Wing Arts Association (and also a Vietnam Veteran), the two began brainstorming the concept for the Minnesota Veterans Art Experience, which ultimately led to a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board's "Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund" and an impressive program and opportunity for Minnesota vets. For more details or to apply, go to redwingartsassociation.org.