Quinlan Visual Arts Center hosts monthly veterans art workshops to create mosaic parklet

The Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville is offering free art workshop sessions every first Saturday of the month for veterans to help build a unique mosaic - and to help veterans in the process.

 

According to Assistant Director for the Quinlan Paula Lindler, the workshops are available through a partnership with The Home Depot.

 

"In June we were awarded a Home Depot Foundation grant, so we approached the Gainesville store about the Veteran's Art Workshops. We decided with them that we wanted to utilize the grant to create a mosaic parklet featuring mosaic tiles, benches and tables with the help of local veterans," Lindler said.

 

The Resident Artist and Teacher at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center, Mary Frances Hall, created the overall design for the mosaic, which will be featured at the Quinlan, but the actual art work for the tiles will come from the veterans participating in the monthly workshops.

 

"This project is a way to get vets not only involved with the community but also to celebrate them. It also shows those who suffer from PTSD, art can be a very therapeutic outlet they can use to cope," Lindler said.

 

The workshops are held at the Quinlan every first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. till 4 a.m. and they are open to any veteran as well all community members that would like to attend.

 

Once completed, the community-created mosaic tile pavers will be featured in the parking lot at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center. The Home Depot will place benches and tables in that space for those that visit the arts center.  

 

Quinlan artist Mary Frances Hall has been working with Marine Jason Smith, a Navy combat veteran, to help design the project, according to Lindler.

 

An RSVP is required for each workshop. The arts center asks anyone wanting to attend to email [email protected] with the number of guests and names of those attending or call 770-536-2575 for more information.