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Michigan Avenue - 2015 - Issue 7 - November - Duncan Keith

Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!

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During the Iraq War, US Marine Corps veteran Richard Casper sus- t a ined four I E D explosions. But , proclaims t he Washburn, Illinois native, "I feel it's more of a blessing than anything because I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing if it wasn't for that brain injury." After earning his BFA from the School of the Art Institute in 2012, Casper cofounded CreatiVets with Linda Tarrson in 2013, and so far he's helped two dozen vet- erans fnd hope and healing through art. Now living in Nashville as the orga nizat ion's execut ive director, Casper leads CreatiVets' song writ- ing program, as well as a three-week accredited art program at his alma mater. Here, he shares how he's help- ing others stay positive—and inspired: "When I got home from the war, I went to college for business. I failed my frst class, and I was like, 'I don't know what's wrong with me.' I went to the VA hospital, and that's where I found out that I had this traumatic left brain injury, and they said, 'It's going to be hard for you to learn these technical skills, so maybe you should try a different major.' Because my left brain was injured, my right brain had to take over, which is the creative part, so I said, 'I'm just going to try art.' I got accepted into the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and that's where [I rediscovered] probably 90 percent—I don't think [my anxiety] will actually ever go away—of who I used to be, because conceptual-based art taught me how to talk about what I was going through without talking about it. "After I graduated, I was thinking, 'I wish every veteran would know that art was an option; I'm going to reach out to the School of the Art Institute and see if they wouldn't mind having a veteran class.' When I went to the vice provost, he was like, 'We'll make that happen.' [Now, with CreatiVets,] we cover tuition, food, and lodging in the dorm. My goal [is to] teach [veter- ans] new ways of thinking about their negative situation and turn it into a positive. One of the veterans [had] never even touched an apricot since he's been back from Afghanistan because his buddy was shot and killed in an apricot feld, so when I told him about how I wanted him to use that as a symbol in his piece, he was excited to fnd one so he could put it in his piece to share his story. "With the song writing program, we'll meet combat-disabled vets who are having trouble talking about [their experiences]. I bring these veterans directly to writers [in Nashville], and the veteran tells his story while I'm in the room, and the writers start turn- ing it into a song. The frst time you hear a veteran, he's kind of timid, but the moment he hears one of the writ- ers start singing, his eyes will light up, and he starts telling everything—he's like, 'Oh, this happened, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to put this in there, but I do now.'" For more information, visit creativets.org. MA CreatiVets teaches combat veterans how to express themselves through music and art. Artwork from a student in Richard Casper's class at the School of the Art Institute. Charity register Opportunities to give. by meg mathis THE CANDLELIGHT BALL What: Hosted by the Women's Board of Heartland Alliance, this 75th annual event, emceed by Ron Magers, features cocktails, dinner, dancing, a silent auction, a raffe, and live music by Rhythm City. When: November 7, 6:30 pm Where: Palmer House Hilton, 17 E. Monroe St. tickets: Visit thecandlelightball.com. CELEBRATE THE DREAM What: Guests will enjoy a cocktail reception, dinner, dancing, a silent auction, and a presentation at the 10th annual beneft for Rebecca's Dream, a nonproft organization promoting awareness for those living with depression and bipolar disorder. When: November 7, 6:30 pm Where: Ravinia Green Country Club, 1200 Saunders Road, Riverwoods tickets: Visit rebeccasdream.org/ 10th-annual-beneft. CHICAGO HOUSE SPEAKER SERIES What: Join Chicago House for its seventh annual luncheon, where 2015 Arthur Ashe Courage Award recipient Caitlyn Jenner will serve as keynote speaker. When: November 12, 11:30 am Where: Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave. tickets: Call 773-248-5200 ext. 209, or visit chicagohouse.org. GIFT OF LIFE GALA What: ABC 7 meteorologist Cheryl Scott emcees the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois' 30th annual black-tie gala, which includes a cocktail reception and silent auction followed by a program, dinner, and dancing to the sounds of Chicago Catz. When: November 14, 6:30 pm Where: The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr. tickets: Visit nkf.org/events/ gift-of-life-gala. 80  michiganavemag.com Soul Survivor AS AMERICANS CoMMEMoRATE VETERANS DAy, RichaRd caspeR EMPoWERS FELLoW SoLDIERS To SHARE THEIR SToRIES WITH CREATIVETS. by meg mathis "art taught me how to talk about what I was goIng through wIthout talkIng about It." —rIchard casper Culture spirit of generosity

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