News

We are beginning the first sessions and classes at the Veterans Art Center.  Thanks to some very generous (non member) volunteers we have the gallery semi-cleaned and will be starting the body talk sessions on Tuesday May 25th.  The studio will be open at that time for the bodytalk sessions, veteran fund requests and computer/print/copy/fax use. Anyone wanting to participate will need to be preregistered.  The registration for BodyTalk can be found on the event calendar. If not previously completed, we do need the veterans assistance application filled out online.

Everything else will remain closed until further notice. Members anxious to have things open need to help out a little and relieve the burden on the 2 or 3 that have pitched in over the past year.  Currently, only the gallery and front area will be open.

Volunteers are also needed for fundraising - however you want to do it.  There have been a few Facebook fundraisers throughout the winter and spring but all but one have been non-members from out of State.  It's disappointing that our members are not participating and trying to keep us afloat.  Exceptions of course to those members who have helped out with generous donations. We are very grateful for those.  We only have 2 1/2 months left in this fiscal year. Despite trimming down many of our operational expenses on the budget, our current income is only at 61% of what is required and members need to decide whether they want to reopen or close permanently.

I also use the term members loosely but offer big hugs and the utmost gratitude to those who paid when they expired.  Sadly this has been a small number and a loss of membership dues.

Our veterans emergency fund, transportation, art supplies and other programs have continued and we have processed 188 applications.  BodyTalk and Tai Chi have also been operating for several months.  

I am anxious to reopen if anyone else is interested.

Wendy

We really want to get some of our classes up and running.  I am providing a link below for an online survey on class interest.  With this feedback I will be able to work on providing classes that you want.  Rather than randomly throwing classes on the schedule that no one attends we want to focus on scheduling classes that our veterans and families are interested in so please complete the online survey. 

Additionally, the survey will help us contact the participants interested in the classes we schedule. Class sizes will be  limited and preregistration will be mandatory so we can allow the instructors planning opportunities. 

Depending on class and instructor requirements the classes will be held at the Veterans Art Center or elsewhere. All materials and equipment will be provided.  Classes are no charge for veterans, and, in most cases, at no charge for immediate family members. Registration for scheduled classes will be available online directly through the event calendar or through the link in your email notification.  

Tai Chi and BodyTalk are already running and  information for each of these is available on the event calendar.  As new classes are scheduled they will also be listed on the event calendar. 

Classes will range from single event 1 or 2 hour classes to ongoing classes on a weekly or biweekly schedule for up to 8 weeks.  No art classes will extend beyond 8 sessions. In this way there will be opportunity for new students to start at the beginning without trying to jump in half way through.  Registration for the extended session art classes will be required prior to startup and no late entry will be allowed.

For the single event 1 or 2 hour classes the class description will include the goal or project of that particular class and they will all be 'once and done' but you are able to register for as many as you want.

Online Class Survey

Event Calendar

Donate Now

to William and Marjorie Straight for your generous donation.  This was so welcomed, and needed, at this time and it has really served in empowering our board and director.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Sept 24, 2020– Operation Revamp, Inc has been awarded a grant of $5501 by the Trutta Foundation and Western Colorado Community Foundation (WCCF) for our transportation and communications programs.

The purpose of the grant is to provide operating costs, registration, insurance and maintenance of the suburban for our transportation program and for the annual costs of our online website and member database at Operationrevamp.org

Our transportation program provides rides to and from the VA, special appointments, food bank and delivery services, other transportation needs, as well as helping veterans with local moves.

The grant from the Trutta Foundation and Western Colorado Community Foundation will provide our annual cost to keep our website and member database operational.  The website provides information on our programs and services, event calendar and registration, member database, online store, public forums, resource information and more and during this time is our main method of communication while the center remains closed.

The Western Colorado Community Foundation serves seven counties in western Colorado, managing charitable funds for community good. Currently, the Community Foundation manages over 265 charitable funds totaling over $80 million in assets and awards over $3.4 million in grants and scholarships annually.

There is no date yet but there will be new policies and procedures in place when we do unlock the doors.

Art Classes and Open Studio

Any and all classes will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only.  On these days there will be no  open studio* so access will only be available to those registered for a class.

Open studio will be available on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday only.

*There will be exceptions to the above as follows.

• The woodshop will be available daily unless a woodworking class is scheduled.
• Glass and ceramics studios will be open daily unless classes are scheduled.
• Computer area will be available daily (One computer station only unless a couple or family come in together)

Coffee, lunch, laptop use, reading or lounging will be in the gallery for anyone using open studio, the woodshop, glass studio, ceramics studio or computer station and social distancing will be required.

Walk-ins for services, assistance, sales, copies or fax will be restricted to the store front and gallery area and social distancing will be required.

Anyone entering the building will be required to wear a mask (per government mandate), practice social distancing, and will be subject to temperature check and health questions. 

Mesa County –The Western Region One Source (WROS) is excited to announce the newest Veteran Artist of the Month, Donna Fullerton. She is a Grand Junction resident who finds inspiration for her art from around the world, although she says, she is most inspired by the American West and South Africa.

Donna’s photography has been published or featured in magazines and online, including official websites for organizations like the National Park Foundation, the National Park Service, The International Audubon Society, Department of the Interior and National Geographic. In 2016, her photo of the Coke Ovens view, taken from inside the Colorado National Monument, was awarded the cover of the National Park Service Centennial Edition photo book. In 2016, Donna was invited by National Geographic to photograph Yellowstone. Two of her photos from that shoot are on display in the WROS.

“As a child I began sketching animals I saw on the big screen,” Fullerton said.

Donna served in the United States Marine Corps, playing the flute in the Marine Corps band. In 1986, she was stationed at El Toro Marine Base in Irvine, Calif., with Comm. Squadron 38.

“I want my artwork to convey a sense of tranquility, beauty and mystery,” Fullerton said. “My work ranges from photography to lost-wax bronze work, and performing arts.”

A reception hosted by Fullerton and WROS staff will be held on Oct. 9, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with some of her art work available for sale. A mix of Donna’s work is on display during business hours at the WROS until Oct. 9. 

Any veteran with creative/art work will be considered for future displays at the WROS. Interested veterans should contact Heather Benjamin, at (970) 257-3764.

COVID-19 Note: Social distancing, masks and no hand shaking will be practiced at all public events and inside the WROS building by all DMVA West state staff and patrons. Masks are required to be worn inside the building due to the Governor’s mandate.                                                                                               

Any veteran with creative/art work will be considered for Artist of the M onth at WROS. Interested veterans should contact Heather Benjamin, at (970) 257-3764.

If you are still out there waiting for news and updates this is your lucky day.  First, I want to thank everyone who is patiently waiting for us to open for classes and studio activities again. The good news is we continue to clean and reorganize while we are closed and it will be a lot more inviting when we all come back.

To date we have cleaned and organized much of the storefront, installed and filled shelves in the new storage area (formerly the dark room), organized the glass studio, moved all models and model making supplies into their own room, and unpacked and sorted all of the porcelain, tole painting and wood projects, glass, bisque ware and green ware and displayed everything on shelves.  There is still much to be done but when we do reopen it will be a lot easier to find projects and supplied to work on as well as finding a space to work on them.