GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The HAS HEART Coffee Shop at Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Grand Rapids is the perfect space for veterans and their art.
“When I went to Desert Storm, I learned how to weld and grind metal. So I used a lot of that in my ArtPrize piece,” said retired U.S. Army Sgt. John Katerberg.
Katerberg won the public vote grand prize at ArtPrize 2024 by transferring his military skills to create art.
“I was injured in an improvised explosives explosion. So I was medically retired,” Katerberg said. “So that allowed me to finish my schooling finally. I graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design with a painting degree.”
His winning piece was done on brass metal and is set to be made into other works of art. The acrylic and oil painting was brought to life using techniques from his family members and the military. The 104-pound canvas shows a “Dynamic Sunset” near the Grand Haven pier and Lake Michigan.
“I think I was in 14 ArtPrizes. And there was a lot of disappointment, but I never gave up,” Katerberg said.
Veterans who frequent the coffee shop are often linked with a network of services, and if you visit, you’ll likely find veterans and frequent volunteers.
“’89 through ’92. I did Desert Storm,” said Aaron Bull.
Bull was just 17 years old when he fought for his country.
“I was just trying to find my way through life, and that is what got me in the Navy. I’m a Navy veteran,” Bull said.
Now, he said, it can be difficult.
“It’s tough,” he said. “You have to find the ways to get what you need and what you don’t.”
That’s why HAS HEART connects veterans through ArtPrize or a simple cup of coffee.
“This gets me up in the morning, gives me responsibility and I’ve been believing what those guys do, and it helps me out,” Bull said.
HAS HEART is close to celebrating its one-year anniversary, and co-owner Tyler Way says the shop is a safe space for veterans and civilians.
“Thankfully, having this core space in the center of downtown, it’s kind of like a community space,” Way said. “So we get to host different discussions. We’ve had different organizations reach out to us and want to have events in this space and a part of it. So, it’s really become a gathering hub, so we love to see the collaboration across organizations with people in the community.”
The coffee shop is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.