Combat Paper at SCLS

After active duty military personnel return from the battlefield, many face a challenging transition to civilian life.  Combat Paper NJ, a project of the Branchburg-based Printmaking Center of New Jersey, uses art as a conversation starter between veterans so that they can begin to recover from their conflict experiences.  David Keefe, an artist who coordinates the project and is a former Marine with six years of military experience, spoke about the project and its impact on May 28 during a reception at the Bridgewater Library, a part of the Somerset County Library System (SCLS).

The project encourages veterans to meet for a once weekly session where uniforms are cut up and put through a process to create paper.  Once the paper is dried, it is then used to artistically depict each veteran’s story using printmaking techniques.  Examples of the art created during the Sunday afternoon sessions were also on display in the library, during the month of May.

The project continues to grow as a powerful tool allowing veterans to work, discuss and then create artistic expressions about their military experiences.  Through sharing their experiences with peers and ultimately with the public via exhibitions and speaking forums, veterans are moving through and past the isolation and emotions and forging ahead into their civilian lives.

Patrons with further questions can call SCLS at (908) 526-4016 or visit the website at http://www.sclsnj.org.  The Somerset County Library System has branches in Bridgewater, Bound Brook, Hillsborough, Manville, at the Mary Jacobs Library in Rocky Hill, North Plainfield, Peapack & Gladstone, Somerville, Warren Township and Watchung.