Pittsburgh, PA…September 13, 2018…The Office of Public Art, in collaboration with Rethink Vets and The Heinz Endowments, will bring back the exhibition Rethink Perception for ten days beginning on September 21, and concluding on September 30.  The exhibition features the work of six artist-veterans from around the United States.  Housed in a repurposed shipping container reminiscent of those often utilized in overseas military deployments, the climate-controlled exhibition space will be located adjacent to 212 10^th Street, Pittsburgh, 15222.  Rethink Perception is free and open to the public. To see gallery hours, please visit: publicartpittsburgh.org. 

Rethink Vets is a coalition of organizations working to change the perception of how returning veterans are viewed by the American public. The exhibition features the work of six artist-veterans: Alicia Dietz (Richmond, VA), Jonas Lara (Oxnard, CA), Jamie Peterson (Columbia, SC), Hector René (Brooklyn, NY), Ehren Tool (Berkeley, CA), and Elise Wells (Stahlstown, PA). Each artist is a member of the United States Veterans’ Artists Alliance (USVAA), an award-winning, multidisciplinary nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for veterans working across the humanities. Selected for their unique perspectives and strong artistic abilities, the artists and their works are intended to raise awareness about how veterans work, challenge veteran stereotypes, and celebrate the significant contributions of veterans to both military and civilian life.

Rethink Perception first opened at the 2018 Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival and engaged over 1,500 visitors. Retired Medical Service Corps Captain Sean Tyler volunteered as a gallery attendant during the festival. "As a veteran, I found the Rethink Perception exhibit at the Three Rivers Arts Festival to be eye-opening and provocative. The exhibition overall challenged the status quo, which usually portrays veterans as being damaged individuals in need of a lot of help. Rethink Perception did exactly as promised; it gave a look into the lives of veterans who have found their way and their purpose after their service ended. Veterans, like all people, are on a spectrum and shouldn’t be pigeonholed into the damaging narrative of being dysfunctional or broken. We are capable of amazing things and this exhibit shows exactly that,” said Tyler.