David Geister Honors Veterans in his Community Painting

Minneapolis artist David Geister is known for his illustrations and paintings and his passion for history. Many of his portraits and landscapes are impressions of the human experience during war. Geister had served in the Marines although he was never in combat.

COMBAT AND WAR ARTISTS

Combat artists have long been documenting the military experience. They are service members or others such as prisoners, those living in occupied lands or family members who may not have personally experienced combat but their lives have been impacted by it. Combat artists are also commissioned artists and are assigned by the military to follow troops into battle and on humanitarian missions. Military branches have had a history of working with artists in formal arts programs as examined in the 2000 PBS documentary, They Drew Fire.

ART THERAPY FOR VETERANS

For those who have served, art can become a narrative to help remember, honor and tell their personal story. Art can be an important resources for healing, especially art therapy when it is facilitated professionally.

The Minneapolis VA classifies art therapy under its recreation therapy program. Ars Bellum in Saint Paul is a private art therapy program for veterans and military family members of all branches and offers mobile programs. 

For more about David Geister's creation of The Wall That Heals, and hundreds of other veterans' stories, visit Minnesota Remembers Vietnam's Story Wall.
 

Credits: Lisa Blackstone, Producer; Robert Hutchings, Matt Ehling, Camera; Skip Davis, Online Editor; Joe Demko, Audio