JEROME DOMASK

Exhibit Curator Jerome H. Domask served in the Army during the Vietnam war (Dec. 1967 – Dec. 1968), in the Military Advisory Command Vietnam (MACV) as an advisor to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) in the Cholon District of Saigon during the 1968 TET Offensive.​

Domask states, “The creation of the war series, Reflections – Vietnam War 45 Years Later, h​ad been a difficult and painful process. It opened an escape hatch to cry out, breaking down barriers of anger and betrayal. I had returned to an America that vilified veterans of the Vietnam War.”

He has won numerous awards & recognitions with many national and local showings.

PHYLLIS THOMAS

Phyllis discovered her love for art in early childhood, and by age 17, she had already gained experience with art exhibits and competitions. After an honorable discharge from the US Navy, Phyllis discovered her need to empower fellow veterans with the Therapeutic wonders of art. 

“My mission is to create visual images that ignite a process of self-reflection and bring a sense of tranquility to the healing process. The creative process I employ is devoted to color, texture, and technique. All forms of surface, including canvas, wood, and metals, serve to transform while applied art helps to empower.”

SKIP ROHDE

“War is one of humanity’s most defining experiences, yet one of the most misunderstood by those who have not been there,” explains Rohde. “My Meditation on War series of paintings is an attempt to give non-veterans a bit of insight into some of the things that veterans live with.”

Skip’s paintings have won national and regional recognition and awards, and have been featured in multiple solo exhibitions across the eastern U.S. A series of approximately 80 drawings, entitled Faces of Afghanistan, is in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Museum of American History, D.C.

CLIFF LEONARD

After attending Georgia Military College, Cliff joined the Marine Corps in 1966, volunteering to serve in 3rd Recon Battalion, Vietnam.

After a life-changing medical event, he developed his skills as a sculptor. His due diligence and tenacity resulted in creating numerous lifelike busts for Marines and Navy Corpsman killed-in-action from Florida. He also created busts for members of his Vietnam unit. The busts were gifted to the veteran families and organizations without cost. Cliff is a very humble artist continually giving back to his veteran brothers and their families.

SAORI MURPHEY

Murphey explains, ​“​It’s​ ​been 20 years since my first battle with suicidal ideation and major depression. I’ve had some relapses since then, but with each fight, insights surface and propel me to more self-discovery and deeper healing. It wasn’t until my last relapse four years ago that I discovered what my ‘service to others’ would be, and my journey of healing through creativity would be born.”

Saori creates powerful, insightful images of her healing journey. She is always experimenting, always giving back, and always moving forward with her expressive and maturing art creations. Saori states that her recovery journey has taught her to feel a real freedom that she never felt before, after having experienced and knowing its opposite.

MARIA MIA SALAZAR

Maria is another “Woman Warrior” spreading her wings as an activist leader in veteran outlets for reconnection and growth. She earned a B.S. of Art Therapy with a focus in Ceramics and Art History, graduating with honors.

“Operation Iraqi Freedom was the war of my generation, we put our lives on hold and shipped off to fight in a foreign world, many of us came home physically abled, but mentally and emotionally fragmented. Caught in the blinding and suffocating sand storms that at times seem to engulf you whole,” says Maria. “Semper Fidelis, always faithful, has been my life motto since, and I intend to live it every step I take, combat boots on or not.”

CHAPLAIN RON MOSES CAMARDA

Father Ron served as a Catholic Chaplain in the fierce battle of Fallujah from October to December in 2004. He received dozens of casualties everyday at Bravo Surgical–M.S.A.H. type Marine Medical Battalion. He personally received over 1,500 casualties and 81 deaths; over 12 died in his arms.

His book, Tear in the Desert, takes readers on a dark journey into the Iraq War– “Nothing prepares us for the gruesome details that mark our souls and spirits forever.” Father Ron Camarda has been a pastoral counselor, FL VFW State Chaplain, and is currently the pastor of St. Monica Church in Palatka, FL.