Skip to content

The Joel Fund’s ‘Her Valor’ Fiber Arts Group Project

Women Veterans Celebrate Artistic Expression in The Joel Fund’s ‘Her Valor’ Fiber Arts Group Project

Wake Forest, NC — In June, The Joel Fund’s Operation ART proudly concluded the “Her Valor” Fiber Arts Group Project, an inspiring initiative created by and dedicated to women veterans. Over the course of three weeks, a group of women veterans engaged in a creative journey, employing various dyeing techniques to produce vibrant, expressive fabrics. These individual pieces were skillfully assembled into a collaborative patchwork tapestry, showcasing both artistic expression and communal spirit.

“The Joel fund was excited to facilitate this group entry project for female veterans to express and reflect on their military service through art. We are honored to have Army Veteran and Operation ART Instructor, Grace McFetters Caldwell guide these participants through the process. My favorite part of the process was on the last day when the veterans collectively block printed and hand wrote words that reflected their time in the military as a woman. I could see the piece truly coming together even before it was sewn.” – Isabella Brezenski, Operation ART Program Manager

The “Her Valor” project was inspired by women veterans who had previously participated in fiber arts classes with The Joel Fund’s Operation ART. Operation ART (Artistry, Reconnection, Transformation) is a community arts program dedicated to providing expressive outlets for emotional well-being in the lives of veterans and their families. The program aims to connect veterans and their families with peers in their community through the transformative power of art. For the participants, this project offered a creative outlet and fostered a supportive environment for sharing their stories and experiences through art.

The completed tapestry, a testament to the creativity and resilience of women veterans, has been entered into the Durham VA Local Creative Arts Competition. This competition provides a unique platform to showcase the exceptional talents of veterans in visual arts, performing arts, and creative writing. If selected, submissions may advance to the national level competition, with the potential for an invitation to attend the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival next spring, which is held in partnership with the American Legion Auxiliary.

For more information about the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, including its partnership with the American Legion Auxiliary, please visit https://department.va.gov/veteran-sports/national-veterans-creative-arts-festival/.