Categories: Museums

Museums & More: National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum

Author: Molly Ryan

History

In 1981, a group of artists and veterans (some suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) formed the Vietnam Veterans Art Group and developed a collection of emotionally-charged art that drastically changed the United States’ view about veterans. As the exhibit toured around the country and an increasing number of veterans submitted pieces of art, the collection gained popularity and significance as a therapeutic and historical icon. When Mayor Richard M. Daley viewed the exhibit then titled “Reflexes and Reflections”, he was so touched that he offered it permanent home in Chicago. In 1996, the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum was opened in a closed factory. It now houses over 1,500 works of art by over 125 artists from around the world who have all been deeply affected by war.

Recently, veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan have been creating their own original works of art to help them express their experiences in combat. The National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum has welcomed in these stirring pieces alongside the multiple works of art influenced by Vietnam. The museum plans on accepting artwork from war veterans around the world to promote understanding about the severe impact of wars throughout history.

A driving force behind the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum is the idea of art therapy. The process of creating art to express the trauma of war has helped hundreds of veterans begin to cope with their emotional, mental, and physical conflicts. Not only does art therapy help the artists live a healthier and more fulfilling life, but it also helps all veterans, families of veterans, and the entire population to better understand all of the elements encompassing war and its aftermath.

Permanent Collections

Upon entry to the museum, if visitors tilt their heads back and gaze upwards, they will see the second permanent monument to the Vietnam War entitled “Above & Beyond” hanging from the ceiling. More than 58,000 dog tags imprinted with the names of the men and women who lost their lives in Vietnam are suspended from wire strings that twinkle as light shines on the metal and the outdoor breeze flows through the lobby. The free-flowing, moving monument acts as a living presence in the museum commemorating the war. Visitors can sponsor a dog tag for $25; visit the “Above & Beyond” Sponsorship Website for more information.

The first floor of the three-story museum holds the bulk of the permanent collection of art. All of the sculptures, paintings, photographs, and drawings are paired with short quotes, stories, and poems by the artists themselves explaining their work or their time in Vietnam. A visitor could spend hours completely engulfing themselves in all of the heart-wrenching and haunting art filling the room. Some of the most arresting paintings, drawings, poems, and stories can be attributed to Richard Russell Yohnka. His art (mainly pictures of skeletal-like characters) expresses the horror, pain, sorrow, elation, insanity and confusion of the Vietnam War that veterans still grapple with today. The intricately crafted sculptures, contemporary paintings, photographs and stories from all of the permanent artists are all bursting with overwrought emotion. The artists are essentially crying out for unattainable understanding and recognition for the war.

Even though many of the artists were not classically trained, the art displayed in this museum is still exceptionally powerful. Learn more about all of the different artists at the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum website.

Visiting Exhibits

The second and third floors of the museum still have a number of pieces from the permanent collection, but there is also an ample amount of space for visiting exhibits.

One of the most popular exhibits (which has returned twice to the museum) entitled “The Things They Carried” is a collection of artifacts that soldiers have carried during different wars. Tee shirts, pictures, maps, uniforms, souvenirs, letters and everything else a solider would need hang from the walls for the public to inspect. This exhibit, inspired by Tim O’Brien’s novel with the same name, gives insight to how the soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam and other areas around the world lived during their time served in the war.

The visiting exhibit “Ancient Lands, Modern Battles” features photographs, paintings, letters and stories from soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. These beautiful pieces of art provide insight into a complicated and often misunderstood war.

General Information

There is a small museum store on the first floor of the building. Reprinted photographs, postcards, patches, and other decorative items are available for sale. Connected to the first floor of the museum is the Café Society, a small café selling freshly made sandwiches, burgers, soups and sweet treats. Visit the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum website for more information regarding location, hours, donations, admission, and group tours.

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