KSHB 41 reporter Olivia Acree covers portions of Johnson County, Kansas. Share your story idea with Olivia.
—
The city of Lenexa is using art to bring light to the veteran experience.
Starting Tuesday, Oct. 29, the city is switching up the art exhibit at City Hall to showcase veteran artwork.
The exhibit is called "Place of Peace" because arts and creativity have been known to help veterans find support.
Whether they’re dealing with PTSD or just need a sense of community, this exhibit highlights the work of local veterans who found peace through art.
The city said veterans can face challenges as they transition back to civilian life. While they’re expected to cope with this sudden change, they don’t always have the necessary support.
Through this exhibit, Lenexa is encouraging community and artistic expression between veterans and other residents.
The exhibit features the work of 32 veterans, including Thomas Radocy. He explained why he’s happy to be part of the exhibit.
“I think veterans had to have a lot of resilience and, yeah, I just thought it was going to be an interesting opportunity to not only see what they're doing artistically but also just chat with them, hear from their stories,” Radocy said.
He started taking photos while he was in the Navy. Since his return, he’s found peace in woodcarving.
“There were times when I was in the Navy, it could be pretty stressful. And when I would do something artistic, like even just walking around, taking photos at a port somewhere, that was sort of my way of just kind of peacefully walking around, just observing everything," Radocy said. "So yeah, it's kind of, kind of a release that way."
Radocy’s wood sculptures and the work of all the other veteran artists will be on display at Lenexa City Hall from Oct. 29 until Nov. 24.
If you’d like to learn more about the veterans featured, the city is hosting a panel where the artists can talk about how art helped them find peace.
—