Artful Things Niceville Hosts Open Air Art Day to Support Veterans

Helping the Veterans of Niceville, Valparaiso and Beyond

Share Norville sees the costs of service veterans bear at her shop, Artful Things Niceville. Many of her customers are veterans who come in to purchase paints, canvas, ink, and brushes to express the joy, sorrow, frustration, pride, and beauty their experiences have brought to them.

Paintings, drawings and sculptures grace the walls of Artful Things Niceville, the art gallery Norville has owned since 2019. Veterans or military spouses create much of the art for sale in the gallery.

All in all, it’s a part of the Niceville art experience Share wants to create with the gallery she took over more than a decade ago.

To give back to the veterans in the community – Norville and the staff at Artful Things will host an Open Air Art Day at their location on John Sims Parkway in the center of Niceville. Proceeds from the art day will benefit organizations that aid veterans: The American Legion and Freedom Life Compass.

Artful Things will also unveil its expanded inventory of professional-grade art supplies and put certain items on sale through the weekend.

The event will take place on Veteran’s Day, November 11th – and Norville hopes the turnout will allow the business to support the non-profits that need the community’s support.

Who are the Beneficiaries of November's Niceville Open Air Art Day?

American Legion Post 221 – named after Oliver D. Nicholson, was formed in 1946 and serves the veterans of the Niceville and Valparaiso area with a place to gather and feel the bonds of brotherhood for people who have served in the military.

Freedom Life Compass is an organization committed to freeing people from a cycle of addiction, homelessness and addiction through Christian-based recovery and Resources. The Life Skills Center of Freedom Life Compass gives job training, computer skills, administration training and other skills to help people move from dependence to freedom.

What's the History of Veteran's Day In The United States?

104 years ago, President Woodrow Wilson named November 11th, 1919 a celebration of the Veterans who fought in the Great War. The year before, November 11th marked the end of fighting in the war.

By 1938, the day had become a public holiday known as Armistice Day. Thirty years later, the United States Congress passed the Uniform Holiday Bill. This bill, according to the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs, “intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, and recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.”

Eventually, President Gerald Ford moved the Veteran’s Day Holiday to November 11th – the same day Armistice Day had been celebrated.