PTSD awareness initiative to support Veterans’ House: the Andy Carswell Building in Ottawa
Ottawa residents looking for a unique way to reflect on Veterans’ Week 2021 may wish to drop by Preston Square, and visit a local artist’s exhibit honouring veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The Red Blanket Project: A Journey into Healing & PTSD in Veterans and Members of the Canadian Armed Forces is on display at the Ottawa School of Art’s exhibit space (347 Preston Street, second floor). There is no entrance fee to view the exhibit. It features nineteen paintings and drawings featuring portraits of military men and women by Ottawa artist Mahshid Farhoudi, as well as and two paintings by Chelsea-area artist and veteran Robert Bradley, who uses art as a healing tool for his own PTSD.
The Red Blanket Project is the result of over a year of work. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Farhoudi conversed with portrait subjects via telephone and over Zoom, sharing and exploring their experiences with PTSD.
“The work I have done is a way of creating support to the veterans and active members living with PTSD in their healing journey,” said Mahshid. “Art is a way of creating hope. And a way of providing awareness in order to destigmatize issues surrounding PTSD. PTSD is not who they are; rather, what has happened to them. Exploring and documenting their stories through visual means of drawing and painting is a way to contribute to their healing journey, in addition to creating awareness of their plight in our communities.”
All of Farhoudi and Bradley’s subjects are draped in a symbolic red blanket.
“The Red Blanket Project has many meanings,” explained Farhoudi. “The idea of the red blanket itself is to give comfort. Red is a colour of passion and perseverance; red is also a colour of courage and resilience.”
She also noted red is the official colour of Veterans’ House: the Andy Carswell Building, a 40-unit home for veterans who have experienced homelessness and/or housing precarity. The Andy Carswell Building, owned and operated by Ottawa affordable charity Multifaith Housing Initiative (MHI), opened its doors in January 2021. Twenty-five percent of any sales of the Red Blanket Project pieces will support programming at house.
“The art pieces featured in the project are beautiful and compelling, and we’re honoured that Mahshid and Robert decided to spotlight PTSD and support Veterans’ House,” said MHI Executive Director Suzanne Le. She noted that Farhoudi and MHI staff are currently on the hunt for one (or more) locations that can host the Red Blanket Project after its stay at Preston Square ends on January 14, 2022.
“Our fingers are crossed that another venue will step forward,” explained Le. “The next location doesn’t have to be a formal art gallery, by any means.” She noted that the next site will need sufficient space for the artwork and wifi access for visitors. MHI staff are in the midst of preparing an internet-based audio tour for the Red Blanket Project featuring interviews with some of the featured veterans in the portraits.
VISIT THE RED BLANKET PROJECT
You can visit the exhibit Monday through Friday, 6 am to 6 pm, at the second floor of Preston Square, 347 Preston Street in Ottawa. Weekend visits can be arranged by appointment by emailing boutique@artottawa.ca.
For media inquiries, more information, or to suggest a space for the Red Blanket Project, please visit multifaithhousing.ca/redblanketproject, email communications@multifaithhousing.ca, or call MHI at 613-686-1825.
