Indianapolis Art Center to host annual veteran art exhibit

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A troop of veterans are preparing to show off their artistic talents in their latest art exhibit. The exhibit opens Saturday at the Indianapolis Art Center and showcases art from veterans in every military branch.

In 1975, Phyllis Baker first put on her army uniform. Back then, the Vietnam War divided the country, and people like her didn’t always feel welcome.

“I remember some people from a religious group came by and they actually spit on me. And I got so much hassle going through the airport — this is in 1975 — not for being Black, but for having on the uniform people were calling me a baby killer,” said Baker.

Jeanine Allen’s story is a bit different. She joined the Marines in 1983 fresh out of high school. Back then, women could only do so much, but she made a career out of it.

However, these two from two different branches of service came together and now make up part of the Indianapolis Art Center’s Art Troop.

It’s a program to empower veterans and active military. And the art they create has therapeutic value.

“Art can be a very healing and very stabilizing activity for people. And I certainly found it in my own meditation in my own life that it was something that made me very calm and very peaceful,” Baker said.

It’s a free bi-monthly program that runs from February to November. Veterans create art that ultimately culminates into an exhibit.