The broad mission of the United States Veterans Arts program was to donate art supplies to VA Medical Centers and bring visibility to Veterans through the expressive arts. As of 2018 we have accompolished that mission and have dissolved the organization. We want to thank all those who participated and contributed to this mission since its inception in 1998.
“Your generous donation will be used at the Jesse Brown VA for years to come with many of our inpatient and outpatient veterans—depending on the case, possibly even with their families. Many of our veterans feel as if music does not belong to them because they are not a ‘singer’ or a ‘musician’. Tools like these help us foster in our veterans the ability to make music for therapeutic reasons, personal peace, and a sense of purpose, rather than avoiding music-making because they think music only exists to entertain others. Thank you so much for helping our veterans see that music is for EVERYONE, and how accessible it can be!” (Kristen Bouwman, Music Therapist, Jesse Brown VA, Chicago, IL)
"Your commitment to serving Veterans and increasing the quality of their lives was reinvigorating to me.” (Volunteer Services Specialist at the Black Hills VA, Fort Meade, South Dakota)
"As a therapist, I was able to watch how these vets opened up to the public. They talked about their work and the military. They really connected in so many ways ...just amazing.” (Donna Gerron, Recreation Therapist at the Ft. Worth Out-Patient Clinic, referring to a USVAP-sponsored booth at the Kennington Art Fair)
2018
ARTISTIC TOOLS PRESENTATIONS
PERFORMANCES/PRESENTATIONS
-A Soldiers Trilogy – In Four Parts - World class pianist Leon Bates performing the military-themed piano music of Vietnam Veteran Kimo Williams, with community interactive symposium.
-FIBERS of DEFIANCE - Textile Art and commentary by Army Veteran, Carol Williams
-Art Exhibit at Shpoeherd University, WV - Art from Martinsburg VA veterans, Kimo Williams , Vietnam Veteran Charlie Shobe and Army Veteran Carol Williams
2017
ARTISTIC TOOLS PRESENTATIONS
-Martinsburg VAMC, Martinsburg, WV
-Perry Point VAMC, Perry Point, MD
-Cheyenne VAMC, Cheyenne, WY
-Coatesville VAMC, Coatesville, PA
PERFORMANCES/PRESENTATIONS
-A Soldiers Trilogy – In Four Parts - World class pianist Leon Bates performing the military-themed piano music of Vietnam Veteran Kimo Williams, with community interactive symposium.
-FIBERS of DEFIANCE - Textile Art and commentary by Army Veteran, Carol Williams
-Art Exhibit at Shpoeherd University, WV - Art from Martinsburg VA veterans, Kimo Williams , Vietnam Veteran Charlie Shobe and Army Veteran Carol Williams
2016 (relocated to West Virginia)
ARTISTIC TOOLS PRESENTATIONS
-Martinsburg VAMC, Martinsburg, WV
PERFORMANCES/PRESENTATIONS
- Kimo Williams coordinated and wrote music for the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs’ Fifth Start Celebration. Specifically, he was commissioned to compose a piano sonata synchronized with images in honor of Victor Skrebneski.
- Symphony For The Sons of Nam was presented in Colorado Springs, CO at the Vandguard Magnet School. Kimo interacted with students to discuss aspects of military service and how he used music to reflect those experiences. Presentation was synergied with their in-classroom history curriculum
- Me, My Guitar, My M16-Developing Core Values Through Adversity, Peoria Illinois
Presented a multimedia talk connecting The Vietnam War experience to music and the development of core values.
Peoria Library.
2015
ARTISTIC TOOLS PRESENTATIONS
-Lovell VAMC, North Chicago, IL
-Jesse Brown VAMC, Chicago, IL
-Quincy, Ill Veterans Home
-La Salle State Veterans Home, Lasalle, Ill
-Martinsburg VAMC, Martinsburg, WV
-Martinez VAMC Martinez, CA
-Coatesville VA, Coatesville, PA
-Wilmington VAMC, Wilmington, DE
-Washington DC VAMC -
-Martinsburg VAMC, Martinsburg, WV
PERFORMANCES/PRESENTATIONS
Kimo Williams developed, produced, and directed a multimedia event performance at the Chicago Symphony Center in partnership with the Chicago Sinfonietta utilizing video, images, and music to bring visibility to those who have served. The music and images were provided by audience members and broadcast on PBS station WYCC.
2014
ARTISTIC TOOLS PRESENTATIONS
-Hampton VAMC, Hampton, Virginia
-Durham VAMC, Durham, NC
-Richmond VAMC, Richmond, Virginia
-Minneapolis VAMC, Minneapolis, MN
-Minnesota State Veterans’ Home, Minneapolis, MN
-Hastings State Veterans’ Home, Hastings, MN
-New York Harbor Health Care System, Brooklyn, NY
-Coatesville VAMC, Coatesville, PA
-Martinsburg VAMC, Martinsburg, WV
-West Los Angeles VAMC, Los Angeles, CA
-Long Beach VAMC, Long Beach, CA
-Lovell VAMC, North Chicago, IL
-Jesse Brown VAMC, Chicago, IL
-Ft. Worth Outpatient Clinic, Ft. Worth, TX
-Dallas VAMC, Dallas, TX
-Washington DC VAMC
-Quincy, Ill Veterans Home
-Manteno, Ill Veterans Home
PERFORMANCES/PRESENTATIONS
Kimo Williams developed and performed a concert presentation of the music of Jimi Hendrix for the Virginia International Tattoo.
2013
ARTISTIC TOOLS PRESENTATIONS
-Wilmington VAMC, Wilmington, DE
-Lovell VAMC, North Chicago, IL
-Cincinnati VAMC, Fort Thomas, KY
-Cheyenne VAMC, Cheyenne, WY
-Indianapolis VAMC, Indianapolis, IN-Washington DC VAMC, Washington, DC
-North Texas Health Care System, Fort Worth, TX
-Coatesville VAMC, Coatesville, PA
-Dwight D. Eisenhower VAMC, Leavenworth, KS
-Eastern Kansas Health Care System, Topeka, KS
-Columbia Vet Center, Columbia, MO
-Kansas City VAMC, Kansas City, MO
-Jesse Brown VAMC, Chicago, IL
-Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD
-Bryan Escobedo, USMC, at Cantigny Military Museum, Wheaton, IL
-Jessica Clymer (USMC, Walter Reed/Bethesda Medical Center)
-Stephanie Morris (US Army, Walter Reed/Bethesda Medical Center)
Monthly Chicago Cable Access Network TV with Lt Col Lucilla Iberra
CAN TV program added to rotation: "National Anthem"
2012
ARTISTIC TOOLS PRESENTATIONS
-Bay Pines VA, Bay Pines, FL
-Long Beach VA, Long Beach, CA
-Prescott VA Prescott, AZ
-Madison VA, Madison, WI
-Denver VA, Denver, CO
-Pueblo VA Community Living Center, Pueblo, CO
-Hines VA, Maywood, IL
-Lovell VA, North Chicago, IL
-Cheyenne VA, Cheyenne, WY
-Black Hills Health Care System, Fort Meade, SD
-Syracuse VA, Syracuse, NY
-Coatesville VA, Coatesville, PA-Leavenworth VA, Levenworth, KS
-Topeka VA, Topeka, KS
-State Veterans Home, Phoenix, AZ
-Erica Gabor, USMC, St Louis, MO
-Brooklyn VA, Brooklyn, NY
Monthly “Veterans in the Arts” Chicago cable TV series, with guests:
-John Stauffer, Vietnam Veteran (US Army) and glass sculptor
-Rick Simmons, Vietnam Veteran (US Navy) and artist
-Justin Bowles, USMC veteran and musician
-Jennifer Tario, USN veteran and poet
-Levi Moore, Executive Director of the National Veterans Art Museum-Lt Colonel Lucilla Ibarra, US Army
-Lecture at the “Center for American Values” in Pueblo, CO (March and October)
-CAN TV program added to rotation: “Symphony for the Sons of Nam”, performed by the Air Force “Band of Flight” in Dayton, OH, in
November, 2011, composed by Vietnam Veteran Kimo Williams
-Creation of “Veterans in the Arts Resources” page at usvap.org.art.html-Quarterly newsletter updates
-Performed and highlighted USVAP at the Newsweek/Daily Beasts' Hero Summit in Washington DC
2011
ARTISTIC TOOLS PRESENTATIONS
- Central Iowa VAMC, DesMoines, IA- Jesse Brown VAMC, Chicago, IL
- Tomah, WI, VAMC
- St. Cloud, MN, VAMC
- Minneapolis, MN, VAMC
- Hastings, MN, State Veterans’ Home
- Minneapolis, MN, State Veterans’ Home
- Dallas, TX, VAMC
- Ft. Worth Outpatient Clinic, Ft. Worth, TX
- Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center in Bonham, TX
- Iraq veteran Mark Zambon (USMC), San Diego, CA
- Iraq veteran Joel Klobnak (USMC) (presented at the annual benefit in Chicago)
Monthly CAN TV broadcasts of “Veterans in the Arts” series featuring:
- Tom Nawrocki, writer
- Iris Feliciano, writer
- Danny Leake, sound engineer
- Mike Helbing, sculptor
- Kirk Garrison, musician
- Peter Bowse, filmmaker
- Mark Bowen, Recreation Therapist, Jesse Brown VAMC- Dave Watling, Painter
- Joe Klass, musician
- Thomas R. Jones, playwrite
- “Meet and Greet” introductory event to create new student veteran organization at Columbia College Chicago- CAN TV programs added into weekly rotation: “Fanfare for Life” and “Faces of Vietnam”
- Workshop on “Intellectual Property and Arts Entrepreneurship” given at the National VA Creative Arts Festival in Fayetteville, AR
- “Me, My Guitar, and My M-16”: multi-media interactive lecture series by Kimo Williams, on music as a form of expression,
at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum in Madison.
2010
ARTISTIC TOOLS PRESENTATIONS
- Jefferson Barracks VAMC, St. Louis, MO
- White River Junction VAMC, White River Junction, VT
- Paul Plemmons and Paul Delacerda
Monthly CAN TV broadcasts of “Veterans in the Arts” series with:
- Konrad Hack, painter
- Kristin Bouwman, music therapist from Jesse Brown VAMC
- Performance at the “Welcome Home” event LZ-Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI- Performance at the Hue International Arts Festival in Hue, Vietnam, with Artist Tools presentation to Vietnamese Childrens’ Orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City
- Performance at Ho Chi Minh Conservatory
- CAN TV programs added into weekly rotation:“Empty Boots”, “American Soldier” and “America the Beautiful”
2009
ARTISTIC TOOLS PRESENTATIONS
Individual Artistic Tools presented to Laura Naravez and Shane Parsons at annual USVAP benefit with Lt Dan Band at Joe's Bar in Chicago
Operation Homefront benefit concert with Kimo Williams Band
September: Artistic tools donation to Jorge DeLeon at the "Remembering Hendrix" concert/fundraiser at Joe's in Chicago
December: Williams and Williams (duo) perform at Snowball Express, Dallas, TX
2008
Performance at Hue International Arts Festival in Hue, Vietnam with 20-member Kimotion Jazz music ensemble, in collaboration with Vietnamese musicians
Additional Kimotion concert at Ho Chi Minh Conservatory