InkSpired Story The Art of War Project: Helping Veterans Through Art
THE ART OF WAR PROJECT:
HELPING VETERANS THROUGH ART
Interview: Cameron Cowan / Photography: Marla Keown
Curtis Bean, a veteran who was helped by
art therapy brings the practice to Denver,
is confident when we speak. Curtis is the
mastermind of The Art of War Project, a
unique nonprofit supported by donations
and small grants, helping veterans process
their PTSD and war experiences through
the crucible of art. He knows first hand
the horrors of the War on Terror and the
massive operations the US military has been
performing Iraq and Afghanistan for the past
15 years. He served for two and a half years
in Iraq in a combat role as a scout and a
sniper. In those roles, a man can see many
horrible things and have experiences that are
far from the normal everyday experiences
of most of humanity. Curtis found an art
program to help treat his PTSD. He started
to paint in interesting, layered abstract
expressionist styles.
Military and veterans affairs have used a
variety of medication to create “zombies”
(as Curtis put it) out of veterans returning
from the war. Rather than actually dealing
with the problem, many veterans have been
subject to this pharmaceutical bypassing.
This has left many veterans with lots of pain
and emotions, and has manifested itself in
a variety of destructive ways ranging from
drug abuse and alcoholism to domestic
violence and suicide. The response from the
military hasn’t been as enlightened as what
private solutions like the Art of War Project
has created. Curtis talks about how veterans
need “options” and the ability to use a variety
of tools, including medical marijuana, to help
treat their symptoms and finding a place of
healing and hope. Although the Art of War
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Project doesn’t have any current efforts
involving medical marijuana, Curtis was in
full and open support of t