A new statewide contest is giving Michigan veterans a creative outlet to process trauma, anxiety and post-service experiences.
The Bay Veterans Foundation launched the "Invisible Wounds, Visible Expressions" contest to support veterans’ mental health through original poetry, photography, short stories and visual art. The deadline for submissions is August 15.
Foundation Treasurer Mike Jamrog said art therapy is a proven form of healing, and the idea for the contest was sparked by the Gougeon Employees Foundation, which approached the Bay Veterans Foundation to create something meaningful in honor of one of the owners’ sons, a veteran who served in the military and later passed away.
“It’s a way that they can express themselves and not hold that particular incident or feelings inside,” Jamrog said.
He said many veterans are reluctant to speak openly about their experiences.
“They have to be very comfortable with another veteran or a member of the family before they do it,” he said. “And this is a way to express those feelings, frustrations, attitudes… in some artistic way.”
The contest is modeled in part after an art fair in Grand Rapids that features veteran-created works from across the country. Jamrog said while their version is currently limited to Michigan, the hope is to expand over time.
So far, the foundation has received 25 submissions, more than organizers anticipated in the contest’s first year. Entries include poetry, short stories, paintings, photography and even string art.
Participants are asked to include a short explanation of their piece and why they created it. Jamrog said some early submissions already reflect deeply personal themes.
“You can see their experiences in the projects themselves,” he said.
The foundation hopes to display selected works at public locations around Bay City, such as City Hall or the county building. Jamrog said they plan to make the contest an annual tradition.
“Until we get no entrants, we’re going to continue offering it each and every year,” he said. “Hopefully it grows to the point where we’ve got to look for someplace real big to display all the art pieces.”
The Bay Veterans Foundation also offers other programs aimed at mental wellness, including a popular guitar program that has grown significantly in recent years.
More information about the contest, including entry guidelines, is available through the Bay Veterans Foundation.
