John Katerberg, a purple heart recipient, is a combat veteran of Desert Storm and Afghanistan. After being medically retired from the Army in 2013, John returned to Kendall College of Art and Design and earned a B.F.A. in fine art with a painting concentration.
Although a lifelong resident of Western Michigan, John moved to Florida for two years, where he took an active role in the art communities of Tampa, Sarasota, Cedar Key, and Saint Petersburg. John was also an art instructor at the Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay, with primary teaching locations at the Pinellas County Jail and West Care addiction recovery program.
By sharing the transformative power of art, John mentors many people struggling through the lowest time in their lives. Currently, John is developing a relationship with the Falkenberg Jail in Florida. He plans to teach art to incarcerated veterans via Zoom.
Postcards from Home
Postcards from Home is a three-sided display of three 72 x 36-in. paintings of Michigan scenes. This piece is unique to the art world, as it combines both acrylic and oil paint on a foundation of polished brass. When the realistic painting is nearly finished, John uses pneumatic and electric grinders, as well as engraving hand tools, to reveal polished brass. Coated with an automotive clearcoat, the art is completely waterproof.
As the viewer interacts with and experiences the work, the paint surface appears to move and change. The title, Postcards from Home, honors the tradition of sending postcards, photos, and letters to members of the military to remind them of the places and people they love. Memory of these places helped John endure stressful and dangerous situations when he was deployed to war.
Our new type of ArtPrize venue gives veterans a voice as they share their stories of struggle and healing through art.
Postcards from Home is showcasing at Veterans Memorial Park
A special thanks to Kent County Veterans Services, Zero Day, Finish the Mission, West Michigan Veterans Coalition, and Healing in Arts for making this collaboration of veteran stories possible.
