Ron Whitehead

Ron Whitehead is an artist, veteran of the Gulf War, and presently teaches photography and art at Ossining High School in New York state. As an artist, his complex images, rendered in layered photography, speak to the duality of military service and the return to civilian life. Ron’s black & white photograph “Art of Healing” was a categorical winner at the 2015 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. The photograph was also featured in color on the cover of the arts education magazine, “Arts & Activities.” The theme for the month of November 2015 was “Make Connections with Art” and Ron’s community connection story was his integrative lesson plan, “Living History Veterans Project: Telling Stories Visually”, currently in its fourth year. 

Created with fellow art teacher Harry Quiroga, the successful project pairs high school art students with veterans who share their stories, photographs, letters from home, memorabilia, and how the military experience shaped their lives with the students. Students collaborate with their veterans on the way they wish to be portrayed. Studio photographs of the veterans, with memorabilia, are taken and students take the next two weeks creating personalized and representative artwork that takes many forms. The entire school and community is involved for the emotional presentations of artwork by the students to the veterans. Ron believes that the greatest lesson to come from this project is that all of us can use our talents to encourage, help, and support others.

Ron Whitehead is a member of the Military Experience & the Arts, listed in the National Initiative Directory. His artwork has been featured in the 2013-14 Veteran Artist Program exhibition at the Pentagon and in the Russell Senate Building.