Captain Brandi McBride’s life has been a journey filled with adventure, service, and resilience. Her career in the Air Force began in 1999, where she was assigned to various locations such as the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Germany. After serving her country, Brandi established several veteran employment programs and worked for nonprofits, start-ups, and the corporate world. Brandi’s love for gardening began with a simple mum in a pot, which sparked her interest in perennials and planting gardens. In 2023, she decided to start her own business as a landscape designer, which allowed her to combine her love for all things that grow with her desire to help others create beautiful and meaningful outdoor spaces.
In 2020, Brandi was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, but she remains a fighter and considers herself a cancer thriver. She values every day and fills them with learning about world cultures, travel, spirituality, and plants. Her husband and three teenage daughters, along with their house full of pets, bring her endless joy and love. Brandi’s latest project, “Embrace the Struggle,” is a beautiful representation of her life as a veteran and a cancer survivor. Through the use of various plants, she showcases the chaos and stress of military service, the harshness of combat, and the hope of post-traumatic growth. She believes that we can all embrace the struggles in our lives, let go of what weighs us down, and stay grounded in the present moment. To her, planting a garden is a symbol of hope and a belief in tomorrow.
Art for Honor is an exhibit of artwork created by veterans,
because every story deserves a chance to be heard.
Art for Honor at ArtPrize
September 13 – 28, 2024
Veterans Memorial Park
101 Fulton St E,
Grand Rapids, MI
Art for Honor: A creative collaboration with Pamela Alderman Art, Kent County Veterans Services, and Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency
