Photographer John Rizzo Reveals the Stories of Returning Veterans

Much has been documented on the hardships of soldiers during war, but what of the soldiers when they return home? Photojournalist John Rizzo investigates this question in his documentary and photo exhibition by exploring how veterans transition from the military to civilian life. Rizzo interviewed and photographed several former Westchester-based soldiers, who shared with him haunting stories about their service, injuries and how their personal relationships and lives have changed after war. The photographer, who has been working on this project for five years, was determined to uncover what the daily life of a veteran is truly like, and in the process discovered the numerous unexpected problems that they must confront – from waiting for months to be treated by an overloaded Veterans Administration Health Care system (VA) to feeling as though they no longer relate to their family and friends. Rizzo explains: “I never hear much about a returning veteran’s journey in the media… but living among us, as our neighbors, are an honorable group of men and women who have served.” He hopes this project will enlighten the public about the issues our local veterans face when returning home. The opening reception will take place on December 2, from 6-8pm at the Main Hall Café at Mercy College, and the exhibition and documentary will remain on view through December 30. This project is supported by ArtsWestchester’s Arts Alive Grant. For more info, visit: johnrizzophoto.com.

A version of this article first appeared in the December 2016 / January 2017 issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.