Finger Painting at the USO

Photograph

Pejepscot History Center

Name/Title

Entry/Object ID

1990.156.764

Description

A black and white photograph of Miss Helen Varney (right, seated) teaching finger painting to the Craft Class in the United Service Organization (USO) rooms during World War II. The activity took place at the Brunswick Town Building/Recreation Center in Brunswick, ME. A group of women and men, many from the Brunswick Naval Air Station, are gathered around a table watching a woman and a man in a sailor's uniform finger painting. Dated ca. late 1940s/early 1950s.

Lexicon

Search Terms

USO

Exhibitions

Exhibition

Labor of Love: Creating Art and Community

Notes

The United Service Organization (USO), created in 1941, is a non-profit to support men and women in the U.S. military. Aiming to unite service members with family, home, and country.asing transitions between home and abroad, the organization has long been a staple of U.S. military culture. Brunswick's USO was located at the Recreation Center in the Old Town Hall Building. Helen Varney, (seated at far right) was an art instructor and a pillar of the community who was very involved with arts and crafts programs in the town. Seen here conducting a finger painting activity, she led the Craft Class in the USO during World War II. Creating art is a way to get emotions and memories out - in a creative way that allows you to control, to a certain extent, how it manifests itself. From easing stress to assisting in the healing process of long term mental illnesses, creating art in a safe place with a trusted community has a plethora of positive impacts on individuals.