The Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VA) is partnering with Downtown Rogers Art on the Bricks Art Walk in November to feature the art of U.S. Military Veterans as the nation prepares to celebrate Veterans Day. The Rogers Experimental House, located at 121 W Walnut Street, will showcase the creative works of veterans and other artists during the 2^nd Thursday art walk from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m., Thursday, November 10. Live music, artist demonstrations, and art and crafts exhibits will commemorate the service and talent of military veterans. A reception, sponsored by Kirk Pearson, US Air Force Veteran and owner of, LaborMax Staffing is also planned. Related items of interest include: Civil War art and artifacts and a display of military uniforms from past decades. Downtown Rogers businesses will also host pop-up galleries with art by Rogers Public School Students and a variety of artists.

Art Can Help Veterans with Mental Health Conditions.
For returning military with mental health conditions, the creation of art, individually or through art therapy, helps Veterans in a variety of ways. Expressing oneself creatively provides emotional relief by encouraging the communication of feelings and concerns. Art making may relieve depression and anxiety as well as improve reality orientation. A Northwest Arkansas Veteran who is participating in the Art Walk will be sharing the relationship with art to better cope with his mental health issues.

Music serves as a form of therapy and means of connecting with others. Also participating in the art walk are military veteran musicians. Soldiers Songs and Voices Northwest Arkansas is a nonprofit organization that provides free instruments and songwriting lessons to veterans as a form of post-conflict care. They are performing vocals and a variety of instruments from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the Rogers Experimental House. This non-profit organization provides free guitar and songwriting lessons to veterans as a form of post-conflict care. This assembly of musical veterans is dedicated to the well-being of returning veterans. The mission of this non-profit organization, based in Fayetteville and serving all Northwest Arkansas, is to foster a creative and supportive community of veterans through music instruction, performance, and community outreach. Volunteer veteran musicians donate their time to share their expertise. The NWA Chapter is one of 11 chapters of a national organization. Other chapters are located in Texas, Florida, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee and Massachusetts. There is also a chapter based in Eureka Springs, AR.

Downtown Rogers Business Pays Final Tribute to Military Servicemen and Woman: The owner of White’s & Company Jewelry is retiring and closing the store in the next few weeks. In addition to jewelry, this locally owned store has a vast collection of military uniforms and memorabilia with some items dating back as far as the Civil War. The collection began with items from owner Rick White’s family, then continued to grow as customers began offering items from their collections inherited from family members. The White’s Jewelry team is loaning several military uniforms for display at the Rogers Experimental House the evening of the Art Walk. The complete collection is available during business hours at the store located at 115 W Walnut Street, Rogers, Ar.

Civil War Highlights During Art on the Bricks

Elements of the Civil War are included in the Art Walk. Bella Vista artist and Civil War enthusiast, Daniel Hoffbauer is exhibiting five paintings at 121 W Walnut Street from the Battles of Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove. Hoffbauer, a resident of Bella Vista Arkansas, moved to NW Arkansas in 2018 from Southern California. He has been a Civil War enthusiast and student of history all his life, but had artist’s block for many years until a visit to the Pea Ridge National Battlefield on March 8, 2020, inspired him to start painting anew. 

The Rogers Historical Museum is offering extended Art Walk hours while featuring products from the Civil War from 10:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. on November 10^th. The exhibit includes soldier quilts provided by NW Arkansas quilt expert Linda Pumphrey’s private collection, as well as two World War II commemorative quilts from the museum collections that were made by Benton County Home Demonstration Clubs. Also, on display at 313 S 2^nd Street in the Trammel Gallery is “Civil War in Benton County: Untold Stories.” This is an opportunity Learn about some of the true stories of bushwhacker attacks, food shortages and other daily life and death challenges for Benton County civilians in a war-torn land on the edge of the American frontier. This exhibit shares personal accounts from letters, local family histories and other documents detailing experiences of daily life during the Civil War period.

Art on the Bricks Art Walk – a program of the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce

Downtown Rogers Art on the Bricks Art Walk showcases regional artists while enhancing the artistic and cultural opportunities in Rogers, Arkansas. The monthly event is designed to bring people to the cultural and historical center of the city and showcase Northwest Arkansas’s deep pool of creative talent.

Art on the Bricks Art Walk is one element of Downtown Rogers’ vibrant arts and entertainment community. The 2^nd Thursday of every month, artists, craftsmen, and musicians, partner with downtown merchants to provide an opportunity to explore businesses and meet the artists in pop-up galleries. Locations and artists change from month to month, and art experiences consistently provide new and interesting opportunities for the public to connect with and support the creative economy. Art on the Bricks seeks to bring experiences that are socially or culturally significant and align with the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce’s economic and quality of life initiatives. For more information, visit www.artonthebricks.com.

2022 SPONSORS: Make Art on the Bricks your destination location for nightlife, dining, shopping, and art. This free, family friendly experience is supported by presenting sponsor: T-Mobile, media sponsor: KNWA Fox 24 News, print media sponsor: CitiScapes Magazine, printing sponsor: Minuteman Press Printing; and dog friendly downtown sponsor: Best Friends Animal Society and Veterans Day Reception Sponsor: LaborMax Staffing.  Featured Art Installation Sponsors for the September Art Walk include: The Pink Paloma, David Gomez Peace of Heart Studio and Pel-Freez Biologicals. Additional sponsors include: Tyson Foods, Washington Regional Urgent Care, Woodridge Retail Group, Rogers Local Food Market, LBC Studio, epigram studio, Arvest, Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette, iHeartMedia and Rogers Experimental House. The event is coordinated by Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Visit Rogers and business owners and area non-profit organizations and participating artists from across NW Arkansas and beyond.