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Tag: At Ease

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December 21 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free

Virtual

Combat Poetry: Poetry Workshop for Military Service Members & Veterans

This poetry workshop is an informal environment combined with a bit of formal instruction. We will write. We will learn. Most of all, we will have fun.

We will be led by poet Douglas Self, a United State Marine Corps, Army Reserve, and Iraq War veteran armed with a BA in English and Creative Writing. He’s also the author of Blast Radius, a collection of poetry that examines his experiences with combat and PTSD. This workshop is open for Veterans and military service members of all levels. Don’t worry if you are new to poetry. Come find your poetic voice! This is event is open to combat and non-combat veterans and service members.

Register for the Zoom

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November 16 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free

Virtual

Combat Poetry: Poetry Workshop for Military Service Members & Veterans

This poetry workshop is an informal environment combined with a bit of formal instruction. We will write. We will learn. Most of all, we will have fun.

We will be led by poet Douglas Self, a United State Marine Corps, Army Reserve, and Iraq War veteran armed with a BA in English and Creative Writing. He’s also the author of Blast Radius, a collection of poetry that examines his experiences with combat and PTSD. This workshop is open for Veterans and military service members of all levels. Don’t worry if you are new to poetry. Come find your poetic voice! This is event is open to combat and non-combat veterans and service members.

Register for the Zoom

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October 19 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free

Virtual

Combat Poetry: Poetry Workshop for Military Service Members & Veterans

This poetry workshop is an informal environment combined with a bit of formal instruction. We will write. We will learn. Most of all, we will have fun.

We will be led by poet Douglas Self, a United State Marine Corps, Army Reserve, and Iraq War veteran armed with a BA in English and Creative Writing. He’s also the author of Blast Radius, a collection of poetry that examines his experiences with combat and PTSD. This workshop is open for Veterans and military service members of all levels. Don’t worry if you are new to poetry. Come find your poetic voice! This is event is open to combat and non-combat veterans and service members.

Register for the Zoom

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September 21 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free

Virtual

Combat Poetry: Poetry Workshop for Military Service Members & Veterans

This poetry workshop is an informal environment combined with a bit of formal instruction. We will write. We will learn. Most of all, we will have fun.

We will be led by poet Douglas Self, a United State Marine Corps, Army Reserve, and Iraq War veteran armed with a BA in English and Creative Writing. He’s also the author of Blast Radius, a collection of poetry that examines his experiences with combat and PTSD. This workshop is open for Veterans and military service members of all levels. Don’t worry if you are new to poetry. Come find your poetic voice! This is event is open to combat and non-combat veterans and service members.

Register for the Zoom

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October 7 @ 1:30 pm – October 24 @ 2:30 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free Waukegan History Musuem admission (see note)

The Carnegie Library

1 N. Sheridan Rd
Waukegan, Illinois 60085 + Google Map
View Venue Website

At Ease in Nature: Nature Holds Our Stories

At Ease in Nature: Nature Holds Our Stories brings together artists with a U.S. military connection to explore the ways nature can hold memory, witness personal experience, and offer space for reflection and healing.

Presented by Brushwood Center at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie Library, the exhibition brings together artwork, photography, and personal narratives from current service members, Veterans, and their immediate family members and caregivers. These works reflect the many ways relationships with the natural world can shape stories of service, transition, resilience, family, and belonging.

Through diverse artistic perspectives and lived experiences, At Ease in Nature: Nature Hold Our Stories honors the connection between service, storytelling, and the restorative power of the natural world. Together, these works create a space for recognition, reflection, and shared understanding; reminding us that sometimes, in nature, we find room to pause, reconnect, and feel at ease.

Please join us for a closing reception on October 24 to celebrate the artists and the exhibition.

RSVP HERE

Please note: General admission to the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie is required to view this exhibition. Exhibiting artists may attend at no cost.

Exhibiting artists who would like to attend the closing reception on October 24 at no cost must register for the event by October 1, 2026.

Admission fees for the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie can be found at waukeganparks.org/parks-facilities/carnegie/

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October 24 @ 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free Waukegan History Museum admission (see note)

The Carnegie Library

1 N. Sheridan Rd
Waukegan, Illinois 60085 + Google Map
View Venue Website

Artist Reception- At Ease in Nature: Nature Holds Our Stories

At Ease in Nature: Nature Holds Our Stories brings together artists with a U.S. military connection to explore the ways nature can hold memory, witness personal experience, and offer space for reflection and healing.

Presented by Brushwood Center at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie Library, the exhibition brings together artwork, photography, and personal narratives from current service members, Veterans, and their immediate family members and caregivers. These works reflect the many ways relationships with the natural world can shape stories of service, transition, resilience, family, and belonging.

Through diverse artistic perspectives and lived experiences, At Ease in Nature: Nature Hold Our Stories honors the connection between service, storytelling, and the restorative power of the natural world. Together, these works create a space for recognition, reflection, and shared understanding; reminding us that sometimes, in nature, we find room to pause, reconnect, and feel at ease.

Please join us for a closing reception to celebrate the artists and the exhibition. 

RSVP HERE

Please note: General admission to the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie is required to view this exhibition. Exhibiting artists may attend at no cost.

Exhibiting artists who would like to attend the closing reception on October 24 at no cost must register for the event by October 1, 2026.

Admission fees for the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie can be found at waukeganparks.org/parks-facilities/carnegie/

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September 3 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free

Art Awakenings

4001 N Ravenswood Ave #204 C
Chicago, 60613 + Google Map

Sound Off! A Women Veterans Art & Wellness Program

“Sound Off!” is a 9-week art and wellness program designed by and for women veterans who have experienced Military Sexual Trauma (MST), intimate partner violence, and gender-based discrimination.  The cohort will meet weekly for trauma-informed creative workshops to process their military experience, share their stories, and build community.  The weekly wellness activities include writing sessions and guided expressive art-making such  as paper making from uniforms, automatic painting, creating personal tapestries, and more. The program culminates in a story-sharing performance which will celebrate the courage and resistance of these women veterans.

The dates of the program are: 

  • September 3
  • September 10
  • September 17
  • September 24
  • October 1
  • October 8
  • October 15
  • October 22
  • October 29
Register Here

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Please note that this event is designed for women Veterans and current service members.
Contact Jessica Klinge at jklinge@brushwoodcenter.org if you have mobility concerns.

Snacks provided, but please bring your meal if you have dietary or need to eat a full meal by 8pm.

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September 12 @ 2:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free

Veteran Art Tribe

View Organizer Website

River Road Seedbed Trail – Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

IL-53
Wilminton, IL 60481 + Google Map
View Venue Website

Paint and Photograph the Prairie

Join Brushwood Center’s At Ease initiative in a special program at the Midewin Tallgrass Prairie to enjoy hours of painting and photographing the prairie with U.S. Veteran artists and photographers. Increase your skills while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow Veterans!

Cameras will be provided, but feel free to bring your own! All art materials will be provided at the event.

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Please note, that this event is designed for Veterans, current service members, and their families.

Snacks will be provided. Please bring water.

Activity Expectation: Walking, possible uneven trails

Sensory Expectations: Prairie and forest landscape. Wear comfortable shoes.

Available Accommodations: No language interpretation available. We have walking sticks available.

Contact Jessica Klinge at jklinge@brushwoodcenter.org if you have mobility concerns.

REGIster

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August 17 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free

Virtual

Combat Poetry: Poetry Workshop for Military Service Members & Veterans

This poetry workshop is an informal environment combined with a bit of formal instruction. We will write. We will learn. Most of all, we will have fun.

We will be led by poet Douglas Self, a United State Marine Corps, Army Reserve, and Iraq War veteran armed with a BA in English and Creative Writing. He’s also the author of Blast Radius, a collection of poetry that examines his experiences with combat and PTSD. This workshop is open for Veterans and military service members of all levels. Don’t worry if you are new to poetry. Come find your poetic voice! This is event is open to combat and non-combat veterans and service members.

Register for the Zoom

Related Events

Pencil

July 20 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free

Virtual

Combat Poetry: Poetry Workshop for Military Service Members & Veterans

This poetry workshop is an informal environment combined with a bit of formal instruction. We will write. We will learn. Most of all, we will have fun.

We will be led by poet Douglas Self, a United State Marine Corps, Army Reserve, and Iraq War veteran armed with a BA in English and Creative Writing. He’s also the author of Blast Radius, a collection of poetry that examines his experiences with combat and PTSD. This workshop is open for Veterans and military service members of all levels. Don’t worry if you are new to poetry. Come find your poetic voice! This is event is open to combat and non-combat veterans and service members.

Register for the Zoom

Related Events

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