Dryhootch partnered with the National Veterans Art Museum and the Milwaukee Art Museum to bring the first ever exhibit of art by veterans in Milwaukee.  About 65 pieces ranging from large sculptures to photos and paintings from the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum will be on display through Nov. 15 in honor of Veterans Day. 

The Milwaukee Art Museum and the gallery along the Calatrava wing that faces Lincoln Memorial Drive was chosen for the small exhibit. Because the museum shares space with the war memorial, Museum Director Dan Keegan thought it was important to celebrate the common heritage of both organizations. 

The exhibit will include drawings of five Wisconsinites who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Because of the growing number of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who are expressing their feelings about war through art, the museum soon will change it’s name to the National Veterans Art Museum, said Jerry Kykisz, director of touring exhibits, who chose the artwork for the Milwaukee exhibit from the museum's collection of a few thousand pieces. Some of the artwork has been sent to hospitals and community centers and used for therapy.

"Any veteran can relate to them, and once they relate to them they can talk about war,” said Kykisz, who served in Vietnam in the Army's 4th Infantry Division in 1968 and '69.