Date: July 9, 2021
Location: Cottonwood Center for the Arts – Colorado Springs, CO
Hosted by: River Deep & Cottonwood Center for the Arts
Participating Groups: Operation TBI Freedom


Art Class – Pottery with Kris Saxton
The pottery instruction class at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts in Colorado Springs serves as a form of therapy for all the veterans and family members who the attended the class. Instructor Kris Saxton opened his studio to help inspire the participating veterans to create something new out of a block of clay—creating instead of destroying, like many experienced while deployed. Kris demonstrated the art of making a bowl out of clay. Following Kris' demonstration, veterans and their family members were engaged in their own pottery projects which included bowls, jars, spoons, coasters, and decorative art pieces. Instructor Kris also demonstrated how to use the pottery wheel for several of the veterans and family members, who were excited about the opportunity! Everyone had a great time and enjoyed the class! All who participated said they really enjoyed working with the instructor, Kris, and would like to attend another pottery class again in the future! As always, a big thank you to Cottonwood Center for the Arts in Colorado Springs for opening up their pottery studio.
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Alfredo Garcia
Military Support Specialist, Operation TBI Freedom

Date: June 7, 2021
Location: Cottonwood Center for the Arts
Hosted by: River Deep & SCIHOP
Participating Groups: Operation TBI Freedom & Ft. Carson SRU

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Monoprint Art Class

A group ten people, six veterans and four of their family members, joined us to learn about Monoprints and Printmaking. Because of the smaller class, everyone had ample opportunity to make as many artworks as they wanted with help from the instructor! We created beautiful, moving monoprints this evening. Everyone created a unique and eye catching artwork they could take home and share with their family and friends. The evening art class was a wonderful and very peaceful way to end the day.

Jesus Guerra, CBIS
Military Support Specialist, Operation TBI Freedom

Bob Adwar
River Deep Foundation, President
​SCI HOP - VP of Humanitarian Outreach

Date: May 3, 2021
Location: Cottonwood Center for the Arts
Hosted by: River Deep Foundation and Denver SCIHOP
Participating groups: Operation TBI Freedom and Fort Carson SRU

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The art class was a great way to start the month of May with a group of veterans and their family members painting beautiful desert sunsets. Our instructor, Jess Preble, did a wonderful job encouraging everyone to use their skills to make a unique masterpiece. The group of veterans and their families enjoyed spending the afternoon improving their painting skills with the help of Jess!


Jesus Guerra, CBIS
Military Support Specialist, Operation TBI Freedom


Bob Adwar
President, River Deep Foundation
VP/Humanitarian Outreach Chairman, Denver SCI

Date: Monday, April 5, 2021
Hosted by: River Deep Foundation & Denver SCI HOP
Location: Cottonwood Art Center - Colorado Springs
Participants: Ft. Carson SRU, Operation TBI Freedom

Painting with Paper - Collage Art
We started this spring with a fun art class, learning a playful application of collage. Our instructor Karen Khoury showed our group of six participants how to make a painting using preselected monochromatic pictures and then adding unexpected elements of color. We had a few families working together during the night creating their pieces and everyone was able to take their works home to share and admire. It was a relaxing night with a great group of people.

Jesus Guerra, CBIS
Military Support Specialist, Operation TBI Freedom

Bob Adwar
President, River Deep Foundation/ Anglers of Honor
VP, SCI Humanitarian Outreach

Date: Monday, March 1, 2020
Hosted by: River Deep Foundation & Denver SCI HOP
Location: Cottonwood Art Center - Colorado Springs
Participants: Operation TBI Freedom

Art Class - Rope Baskets
We hosted 8 veterans and 5 family members at this month’s art class that also kicks off Brain Injury Awareness Month. Elizabeth Barber taught us to use recycled mountain climbing rope for craft basket, mats and coasters. We had a few families that worked together during the night making beautiful baskets to take home with them. It was a relaxing night with a nice fellowship. 

Bob Adwar President, River Deep Foundation/ Anglers of Honor VP, SCI Humanitarian Outreach
Jesus Guerra, CBIS, Military Support Specialist, Operation TBI Freedom
 

February 1, 2021
Location: Cottonwood Center for the Arts Colorado Springs
Participants: Operation TBI Freedom
​​Hosted by: River Deep Foundation & Denver SCI Humanitarian Outreach Program

We hosted 6 veterans and 4 of their family members tonight at Cottonwood Center for the Arts! Our instructor Al B Johnson (AB) taught as about the painting style abstract expressionism. We learned about the fundamentals, talked about famous abstract artists and learned several techniques to paint in this genre. After the block of instruction, each student had the chance to apply what they learned, and created two masterpieces of their own. What a fun, creative evening!

January 4, 2021​
Hosted by: River Deep Foundation & Denver SCI HOP
Location: Cottonwood Art Center - Colorado Springs
Participants: Operation TBI Freedom.
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We had another amazing night at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts. We are thrilled that Cottonwood has offered continued opportunities to hold classes safely for us. Now more than ever it’s important for our clients to stay engaged in life despite the isolation of the pandemic. Our instructor tonight was Ben Bires, who guided us on painting landscapes. Each student was able to choose from a selection of landscape photos to paint from and they all created an amazing masterpieces! It was an evening of fun and relaxation for all of the participants and their family members