ISSUE NO. 30 | MAY 25, 2026

Publisher’s Note | from Denise Leslie

Memorial Day has always carried a complex weight for me.

As a child, I understood it in broad strokes—a day of flags, remembrance, and gratitude for those who served. But like many things, its meaning deepened over time, shaped not only by history but also by personal loss and the stories I came to understand only after my father was gone.

My father was born in 1921 and served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He died when I was only 24, long before I had the wisdom to ask the questions I wish I could ask now.

Like many of his generation, he rarely spoke about the war. What I remember instead is the man who came home—funny, charismatic, quick-tempered at times, deeply loved, and known to nearly everyone as Smitty—his name: Ray Edwin Smith.

Only later did I learn fragments of his story. He had been stationed on Johnston Island in the South Pacific and, at one point, was among troops left behind for months, surviving largely on coconuts and pineapple. He never ate either again.

That detail has stayed with me because it says so much without saying it all.

Over the years, I’ve come to understand that creativity often gives voice to what conversation cannot. Music, writing, art—these can become places where memory, grief, gratitude, and healing find expression.

So this Memorial Day, as we honor those who gave their lives in service, I’m also thinking of those who came home with stories they may never have shared.

Today’s special edition of Arts Perspective honors veterans whose healing, reflection, and resilience have been expressed through the arts.

Because remembrance takes many forms.

Sincerely,

Denise Leslie, Publisher
Arts Perspective magazine

VISUAL ARTS | FILM | SCULPTURE

The Kinesthetic Vision of Blind Sculptor Michael Naranjo

Michael Naranjo lost his sight in Vietnam at 23 after a grenade explosion changed the course of his life. What followed was not the end of his artistic vision, but the beginning of an extraordinary new way of seeing. Today, the acclaimed Santa Clara Pueblo sculptor creates work through touch, memory, and instinct, drawing on a remarkable sense of form that continues to inspire audiences around the world.

For this special Memorial Day edition of Arts Perspective, we invite you into Michael’s astonishing journey of resilience, creativity, and service—a story that reminds us that courage doesn’t end when the battlefield grows quiet.

Read the story. Watch the video. Sit with the power of a life reimagined through art.

Some heroes carry their stories in silence. Michael shaped his into bronze.

👉 READ MORE + WATCH TRAILER

VISUAL ARTS | PAINTING sponsored by Deborah Kelroy Fine Art

The Things We Create, The Things We Carry

A story of service, second chances, and the healing power of creativity. This Memorial Day, meet Lonny and Kerry Shaw—whose remarkable journey from separate lives back to one another found new meaning through lapidary art, oil painting, and the creative community sparked by Deborah Kelroy’s VFW art program. A heartfelt reminder that healing can take many forms.

EVENT SPOTLIGHT | sponsored by Silverton Creative District

First Friday Art Walk | Silverton

Make the drive north on Friday, June 5, for an evening of art, creativity, and mountain-town charm as Silverton’s First Friday series returns. Wander downtown, discover local artists and makers, and enjoy a creative summer escape in the heart of the San Juans. 4–7 p.m. in downtown Silverton.

LITERARY ARTS | POETRY | A FEW LINES WITH LARRY sponsored by Larry Bourland Poetry

"In Memoriam" is a quiet, powerful reflection on memory, service, and the deeply personal ways we carry history forward. In this moving poem, Larry Bourland honors not only the visible symbols of military sacrifice but also the unseen stories, friendships, and burdens that veterans often hold close for a lifetime.

Hearing Larry recite the poem in his own voice adds another layer of resonance—measured, reflective, and profoundly human. We invite you to listen to the accompanying audio and experience "In Memoriam" as it was meant to be heard.

IN MEMORIAM

He was in his 82nd year when life moved on without him.

He'd seen it coming; he was ready.

Finding the challenge interesting, he made his preparations.

Myriad donations were well executed,

a life quickly becoming uncluttered.

Read & Listen to the Entire Poem

PERFORMING ARTS | MUSIC | SONGWRITING sponsored by Jimmy's Music & Supply

A Song for Brad: in his own words by Denny Finn

This Memorial Day, veteran and musician Denny Finn shares a story that speaks to friendship, invisible wounds, and the extraordinary way music can carry what words alone sometimes cannot. His song, "Up on the Wall", was written in memory of a friend, but its message reaches far beyond one life. We invite you to spend a few moments with this powerful story—and to listen. Some songs are meant to be heard with the heart wide open.

LISTEN TO HIS SONG and READ MORE...

HEALING ARTS | sponsored by Wild New Way

Remembering My Father

Some stories of remembrance are woven through history. Others live quietly in our own families. In this heartfelt reflection, Cindy shares memories of her father’s military service, the questions left unasked, and the way understanding deepens over time. A thoughtful Memorial Day read about love, legacy, and the stories we carry forward.

Beyond Our Corners...

• What happens when great art leaves the museum walls? In the UK, a National Gallery initiative is bringing reproductions of masterworks into town centers, inviting everyday encounters with art where people already gather—a compelling reminder that creativity belongs in public life, not just in curated halls.

→ Read More

• Short stories offer one of the most satisfying ways to step into another world in a single sitting—and for writers, they’re a masterclass in precision, voice, and emotional impact. If you’ve been inspired to try your hand at one, CRAFT Literary welcomes submissions and offers a thoughtful home for contemporary fiction and creative nonfiction.

→ Read more

• Music can be a powerful path to healing, connection, and renewed purpose. The Resilient and The Reborn Project bring that message to life through performances and storytelling rooted in resilience, lived experience, and the transformative role of creative expression.

→ Read more

And as always, you’ll find the stories unfolding closer to home at artsperspectivemag.com.

Seeing Clearly: Reflection Through the Work of Shawn Gould

This week’s Eye on the Arts is made possible by Sorrel Sky Gallery, a longtime champion of artists whose work invites connection, reflection, and wonder.

In this Memorial Day edition, we take a closer look at the wildlife artistry of Shawn Gould, whose compelling eagle portrait, "Seeing Clearly", offers a fitting pause for remembrance.

If you’ve yet to step inside Sorrel Sky, consider this your invitation to experience a gallery where exceptional artistry and storytelling meet.