ELI WRIGHT
Eli Wright enlisted as a combat medic in the US Army shortly after September 11th, 2001. Upon returning home from Iraq in 2004, he began organizing with other veterans to speak out about their military experiences through activism and the arts. Since 2007, Eli has practiced the craft of making handmade paper from military uniforms with fellow veterans in communities across the country. Eli is a co-founder and workshop instructor at Frontline Paper in Branchburg, NJ. More information can be found at www.eliwright.nyc
NATE LEWIS
Nathan Lewis is a U.S Army veteran and served in Iraq in 2003. He is an artist, writer, activist and arborist living near Ithaca, New York. He has facilitated writing and papermaking workshops for veterans since 2009. His artwork has been shown in many galleries across the country, including the Brooklyn Museum. Nathan has books and prints in many rare book collections and institutions, including the Library of Congress. He appeared in the film The Green Zone (2010).
KEVIN BASL
Kevin Basl is a writer and musician living near Ithaca, NY. He was in the U.S. Army from 2003 to 2008, twice deploying to Iraq. Since 2013, he has facilitated numerous hand-papermaking workshops with Frontline Arts. He has also taught many writing workshops for veterans, with Warrior Writers. He is a member of About Face (formerly Iraq Veterans Against the War) and Veterans for Peace. To read his writing and hear his music, visit: www.kevinbasl.com.
WALT NYGARD
Walt Nygard was born in Portland, Oregon. He enlisted in U.S. Marine Corps, 1969. Served in Viet Nam, Philippines and Okinawa. Graduated University of New Mexico, English/Art. Walt is Studio Manager at Frontline Arts. A veterans art project, Frontline produces handmade paper from U.S. military uniforms. The paper made at their studio in Branchburg, NJ, at workshops in colleges and universities throughout the Northeast, for the military at Walter Reed and Bethesda, and the art work done on it, has been seen by Michelle Obama, Prince Harry and thousands of others interested in this transformative art.
JAN BARRY
Jan Barry is a poet and author whose books include Earth Songs, Life after War & Other Poems and (co-editor) Winning Hearts & Minds: War Poems by Vietnam Veterans. A U.S. Army veteran of Vietnam, he coordinates Warrior Writers workshops and programs for veterans and family members in northern New Jersey. He’s presented poetry readings at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, New York City Poetry Festival, Puffin Cultural Forum and other venues. His art work has appeared in the Brennan Courthouse Gallery in Jersey City, Grounds for Sculpture Art Gallery and other galleries from Washington, DC to Reno, Nevada. For more information: www.janbarry.net
EVERETT COX
Everett Cox marked 2020 as his 10th year since becoming a vet. He went to his first vet retreat in 2010 and broke his silence about his experiences in Viet Nam in 1969. He calls his becoming a vet Survival Arts. That includes working with his hands and being in nature as a gardener, stone and tree worker and housepainter. It also includes participation in the Veteran Theatre Project, Warrior Writers, Exit 12 Dance Company, Decruit and other vet centered activities. He currently works for the New York State Dwyer Veteran Peer Program.
JAMES J. YEE
James J. Yee is an American former United States Army chaplain with the rank of captain, who served in Guantanamo Bay. He is best known for being a whistleblower and subject to an investigation by the United States, but all charges were later dropped. Yee later authored a book about his experiences as chaplain, For God and Country.
SARAH N. MESS
Sarah N. Mess’s poetry and art are featured in Warrior Writers’ most recent anthology, titled Warrior Writers. Sarah served in the U.S. Army from 1992-2000, including a combat tour with the 42nd Field Hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993. Her poetry presentations have electrified audiences at Cooper Union, New York City Poetry Festival, Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival at the NJ Performing Arts Center and other locales in New Jersey and New York City. She lives in Branchburg, NJ with her husband and two children.
PAUL CHAFFIN
Paul was born in Ohio and enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 17. He spent three floats on the 31st MEU before deploying to Afghanistan in December 2010 as part of OEF II. Paul was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 2012 and now lives in New York City where he enjoys any activity not sanctioned by the government.