W/ar/t Panel Discussion with U.S. Military Veterans Turned Artists

Conceptual artist Joseph Beuys (12 May 1921 – 23 January 1986) and writer Wolfgang Borchert (20 May 1921 – 20 November 1947) both suffered severe trauma during World War II and processed their experiences by creating art. After a year of collectively experiencing COVID-19 and the toll it has taken on our mental health, the Goethe-Zentrum wishes to take the opportunity to ask if and how art can heal PTSD, trauma, and wounds of the mind in the broadest sense.

Goethe-Zentrum has assembled a panel of accomplished artists, many of whom are veterans themselves, to help them find an answer.

Panelists:

Combat Hippies, a group of U.S.-Army-Veterans and Performance-Artists in Miami and Puerto Rico. They process their experiences in and after combat through performance (http://www.thecombathippies.com/).

Teri Darnell, 60+, photo artist and former US soldier in Berlin, photo project The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Board of Directors at Atlanta Celebrates Photography (https://acpinfo.org/)

Willis, 36, photo artist and journalist with decades in combat, creator of the “living portfolio” Traplanta (https://spaldingnixfineart.com/artist/willis-aka-traplanta)

Claudia Einecke, Curator at the High Museum of Art (https://high.org/)

Maria Theresa Barbist, Performance Artist and therapist (https://mariatheresabarbist.com/)

Nnamdi Okonkwo, Nigerian Sculptor in Georgia (https://www.nnamdiart.com/)

Moderators:

Mary Stanley, President of Atlanta Celebrates Photography, Oliver Gorf, Executive Director, Goethe-Zentrum Atlanta

The virtual event is free to attend, but participants must register in advance to receive the Zoom Meeting ID and password.