The Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay (VACTB) has been a staple for military veterans, first responders, and their families for the last decade, offering alternative therapies through the arts in the name of mental health, healing, and suicide prevention.
“I want to make this a legacy for Tampa Bay,” says Maj. Mack Macksam, who served for 20 years in the U.S. Army. Since then, he has made the Tampa Bay area his home, dedicating his time to serving the community. “Before retiring from the U.S. Army, my last assignment was training future Army officers at USFSP (University of South Florida St. Petersburg),” he said. “While running with our cadets one early morning, I realized I had never seen an art center that focused on military and veteran artists. My thoughts then became my next mission: to pioneer a center for mental health, healing, and suicide prevention.
“I ask for a call to action and continued help in building up the Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay as we create powerful synergies together. Let us selflessly celebrate, honor, and commemorate the men and women that serve: past, present and future as we celebrate our 10th year anniversary.”
An Alternative Method
Connecting through the power of art and empathy has always been the foundation for the center’s offerings, from programs and fundraisers to commissioned art and active exhibits. Empowering veterans within a community that understands and fully supports them has changed lives and families for the better.
Current curated exhibits showcase art pieces and photographs commemorating various war times in America’s history, including “American Soldier” (the Civil War to Iraq), “Innocent Souls” (Vietnam, 1968), “Eyes of Freedom” (nationally traveling veterans tribute), and Colonial Flag Exhibit.
Two of the most active programs through the VACTB are done at local rehabilitation centers as a resource to aid veterans healing from addiction. Craig Gross teaches weekly watercolor classes at River Oaks Rehab in Riverview, which has served 45 veteran patients to date. Gross grew up in a military family, served in the 1970s, and is the father of one of Florida’s fallen soldiers, Cpl. Frank Gross, killed in action in Afghanistan in 2011. Grieving the death of his son, Craig Gross leaned into his passion for the arts and is now giving that healing back to other veterans through his art therapy classes. Aaron Evans, previous Philadelphia Eagles player, teaches monthly painting classes at Riverside Recovery in Tampa, and has served 43 veterans in their healing journeys.
Additionally, several other VACTB programs have yielded remarkable results over the years, including more than 16,000 commissioned artworks; over 2,300 veterans, children, and families supported; and three successful suicide preventions. The center is a force for art in ways that will continue to touch the community for years to come.
Giving Back Going Forward
The VACTB’s fundraising drives include the Blick Art Supply Drive, Ukraine Toy Drive, Gratitude American Art Supply Drive, and yearly Christmas Toy Drive, which have raised more than $86,000 and served over 23,000 people locally and globally. The annual School Supply Drive is going through July into the first two weeks of August. Last year’s effort drew $18,000 in donations, enabling the charity to give supplies to 974 local students.
Donation link: www.vactb.org.
Likewise, to commemorate 10 years of service to the veteran community, the VACTB is holding an anniversary event from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, September 23 at the Hillsborough County Bar Association, the theme being “Healing and Unifying.” There will be notable keynote speakers as well as the Corporal Humlanz USMC (KIA) Arts Scholarship awarded to two local university students. The hope is to have between 150 and 200 attendees and to raise $50,000 toward continuation of the arts organization’s program.
Registration link: vactbanniversary.eventbrite.com.
Donation link: paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=LUPP6FUXZNGGW
Get Involved
For information or donations, visit www.vactb.org, or phone (813) 992-7694. Send email to [email protected], or write to P.O. Box 5856, Tampa, FL 33675
