As executive director and co-creator of the Veterans Art Institute (VAI), Laura Taylor, a Navy veteran, often thinks of creative ideas to inspire her next art project.
And when Captain Morgan decided to relaunch its limited-edition military design bottle to honor veterans and active-duty personnel, one of the world’s leading rum producers reached out to Taylor to craft the perfect image.
For this task, she didn’t have to search far and wide for inspiration; she simply thought of her late father, Vietnam War veteran Daniel Meisenhelder.
Meisenhelder served in the Army and was a member of C Company, 15th Battalion, 9th Infantry, spending a tour in Vietnam from 1967-1968. The Army veteran died on April 3, 2013, about three weeks shy of his 67th birthday.
Another goal in Taylor’s design was to “reflect unity across service branches and the camaraderie among those who serve,” according to a press release.
The bottle, toting Captain Morgan’s popular spiced rum flavor, was released in May to commemorate National Military Appreciation Month and will be available throughout the summer in a few select states: New York, Indiana, Kentucky and Florida. From the sale of each bottle, $1 will go to the VAI to support art programs for active-duty military members and veterans.
Helping Veterans Through Art
Taylor has harbored an affinity for art since she was a small child, showing expression through drawing, painting and experimenting with other mediums.
“Over the years, my artwork has evolved, but one thing has remained the same: it’s how I process experiences, capture memories and express what matters to me,” she told Military.com.
As a Navy veteran, my military service added another layer of inspiration, mostly rooted in my father. Many of my pieces reflect my respect for service, patriotism, and the people who have worn or wear the uniform.
Taylor became involved with the art institute in 2017 after meeting Kathleen Ellertson, the organization’s founder. Ellertson realized Taylor’s talent and encouraged her to participate in the “Celebrating 100 Years of Enlisted Military Service for Women” exhibit.
“That sparked a relationship that would eventually grow into something much bigger,” Taylor said.
The next several years saw Ellertson and Taylor working together to bring exhibits to Veterans Affairs facilities and veteran-focused organizations across the country. Taylor and Ellertson saw firsthand how vital art and community were to veterans and their families, along with the healing power of artistic expression.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, limiting in-person events, Taylor and Ellertson searched for opportunities to keep those connections alive. “We asked ourselves how we could continue supporting veteran artists regardless of where they lived,” Taylor said. “That led to the idea of creating a national online gallery.”
To do that, the organization reached out to Marine Corps veteran Kelly Hodsdon, a technology guru who formed 123 Enterprises to build a robust online gallery, featuring more than 6,100 projects.
“Together, we built what has become a free national online platform where veterans and active-duty service members can showcase their artwork, connect with fellow artists and share their stories with a broader audience,” Taylor said.
In just a few years, the gallery has grown to serve about 1,250 registered veteran artists in the U.S.
“What began as a handful of in-person exhibits has evolved into a thriving national community, and one of the things I’m most proud of is that it remains completely free for every veteran and service member who wants to participate,” Taylor said.
Design Honors Soldiers
While thinking of her Vietnam veteran father and her own military service, Taylor set out to design a label cover that pays tribute to the past, present and future of U.S. soldiers and reflects the values that unite Americans.
The inspiration came from my love of country and the pride I feel for those who have worn our nation’s uniform, she said.
Her design shows a soldier with his back to the bottle holder, standing in a moment of quiet reflection. The label also includes six stars, one for each of the nation’s military branches.
“To me, he represents all who have served before us while also saluting those who serve today and those who will answer the call in the future,” Taylor said.
The artist’s work wasn’t something she whipped up in a day. She said it took several weeks of refining to reflect the details and symbolism she wanted to convey.
“Every element was intentional,” Taylor said. “My goal was to create something that reflected pride, service, sacrifice and the enduring spirit of the men and women who have served our nation.”
Art as Therapy
As veterans continue to seek out more ways to cope with mental health challenges, artwork can have tremendous therapeutic benefits.
Taylor said while art offers incredible value for veterans, it shouldn’t be seen as an outlet to “fix” their problems.
“For many veterans, art provides a sense of purpose, expression and connection,” Taylor said. “It gives people a way to tell stories, preserve memories, share experiences and build relationships with others who understand military culture.”
The most impactful aspect of VAI is that it brings a community of creative veterans together, which Taylor believes is sometimes more important than the actual artwork.
“It gives them purpose as well as a place to belong,” she said.
With the Captain Morgan design in the rear-view mirror, Taylor is busy working on other projects and growing the institute’s online gallery to showcase more veterans’ work.
“As we continue to grow, we are focused on expanding educational resources, increasing artist exposure and creating more opportunities for veterans to share their creativity with their communities,” she said.
Read the full article here