New Nonprofit Looks to Provide Veterans Artistic Outlets

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

After 23 years of serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, James Shadle came back from combat deployment with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Despite his symptoms, Shadle decided to keep everything to himself and try to process his feelings on his own.

“I was creative as a kid; I did a lot of drawing and stuff like that, so I turned to creativity to cope with my symptoms,” said Shadle, a San Clemente resident and director of General Services for the City of Dana Point.

“When doing so, whether it was woodworking or drawing or graphic arts, I felt like there was a significant change in my attitude and self-awareness,” continued Shadle, who retired from the Marines as a sergeant major.

Though Shadle couldn’t pinpoint exactly why creative expression helped him process his service experience, he noted that the process of creating something was “almost like a mindful technique.”

While in the military, Shadle enjoyed drawing cartoons.

“I was doing military cartoons that not everybody thought (were) funny, because I’m not the best writer,” Shadle said. “But, mostly drawing, graphic arts, I did a lot of woodworking and making wooden pens, things like that. Just something to do with

(Cont. from page 3) step inside the double doors and have an experience unlike at the other establishments on the same street.

Black and gold can be found everywhere, from the wallpaper to the floors, on the chairs and as accents. Partnering with GTC Design, Wise wanted his restaurant to emulate what could be found in “retro steakhouses” on the Las Vegas Strip.

The San Clemente location at 226 Avenida Del Mar, however, stands out in that it’s the first two-story restaurant and it is decorated with “oceanic blue” accents, paying homage to the city’s identity as a beach town.

“The cool thing about this project, when we looked at it almost two years ago now, was (that) we love the neighborhood,” Wise said. “San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente have always been where my wife and my family come up and spend a day after coming from down south. The architectural Spanish vibe is something we really enjoyed.”

He added that there are pockets all around the restaurant where guests can my hands.”

Looking to share the comfort and coping mechanisms that artistic outlets offered him, Shadle launched a new nonprofit in January: My Creative PTSD.

“That’s what inspired the nonprofit, really,” Shadle said. “I just want to give other veterans that same opportunity.”

“I went through various forms of treatment, both inpatient care and outpatient care, and a lot of times, it’s just a lot of drugs forced your way, things like that,” he continued. “So, I’m just looking for alternative ways for veterans to cope with their symptoms and express how they’re feeling.”

Shadle’s ultimate dream is to develop an Orange County Veteran Art Center as a safe space for veterans to create with art find enjoyment, whether on the downstairs patio, at the bar, in the private room or upstairs, especially on the patio with a better view of the ocean.

“You can come back here four or five times and have a different experience each time, and that’s what’s unique about it,” said Wise.

The goal is to bridge the gap between high-end and casual, according to Wise. Rare Society accomplishes that by offering fare that parallels a classic steakhouse and playing contemporary music.

Wise added that visitors will notice the place has energy and is a little noisier than the atmosphere of an “ultra highend” restaurant.

As a self-described person with simple tastes, Wise’s favorite dishes are the Caesar salad with fried anchovies and pecorino, the steamed clams with dry-aged chorizo, the boards, the prime bullseye ribeye, and the butter cake as dessert.

His experiences with Santa Maria-style barbecue, as his wife is from California’s Central Coast, have greatly influenced how Rare Society cooks its steaks. Its therapists and instructors.

“Obviously, that costs a lot of money and takes time to get to that,” Shadle said.

In the meantime, Shadle is looking to gauge interest and demand in the community as he continues to grow the new nonprofit.

For those looking to be a part of My Creative PTSD’s program, Shadle explained the best way to start is to get a referral from their doctor.

“If they wanted to use the program and get some art classes and get these things paid for, then they should go to their medical provider and have them reach out to me,” Shadle said.

While Shadle is still building connections to create a network of artists working with different mediums who would brand is built around wood-fired steak, Wise said, which takes longer to cook, but is associated with Wise’s love for steaks cooked over wood or charcoal.

“Things are a little bit more challenging and harder for the cooks—(you) can’t always find wood-fire cooks,” he said.“You really have to teach them and give them an appreciation.” be willing to offer classes for My Creative PTSD, Shadle aims to ultimately facilitate a diverse range of artistic opportunities for veterans.

That kind of effort can be found throughout the restaurant, as Wise calls Rare Society nearly a 24-hour operation even as it’s only open from 5 p.m. to closing, Wednesday through Monday.

Everyone there during the opening hours can consider it a good night if they leave by midnight or 12:30 a.m., as the restaurant receives reservations as late as 9:45 p.m. Then, the cleaners come in from 1-5 a.m., followed by all the prep cooks and the butcher, and others who arrive in the early afternoon to get ready for the next rush.

“There’s a tremendous amount of preparation that goes into making sure everything’s portioned and all of those things,” said Wise.

“Right now, I’m collaborating with other businesses in Orange County that already teach art,” Shadle said. “They’ve agreed to open their doors and create a safe space for veterans to go to create art. The money that we raise, it pays for the instruction and space and the materials.”

On Thursday, June 22, My Creative PTSD will host Colors for Warriors, an art auction and benefit dinner, from 5 to 9 p.m., at the American Legion Post 291 in Newport Beach.

The event’s proceeds will benefit nonprofit organizations aimed to help veterans with PTSD and will feature cocktails, dinner, guest speakers and live music.

The nonprofit has partnered with local artists and artist veterans to provide artwork for the event’s art auction.

Artist veterans Amber Zora, Amanda Allen, Joe McDonald, William V. Black and Carlos Aguayo have donated artwork for the fundraiser.

San Clemente artist Claire Kavaya, Honor Tango Foxtrot Apparel Owner Keith Martinez and artists Shawn Cross, Julie Kluh, Andrew Escudero and Patrick Parker are also supporting the fundraiser with art donations.

In addition to donating art, Kavaya will host art classes for veterans at her studio, Side Street Art in San Clemente, Shadle said.

More information on the nonprofit and about purchasing tickets for the benefit dinner can be found at mycreativeptsd.org.

With each new iteration of Rare Society that he’s opened, there are lessons and mistakes he can learn from and put into the next shift or venture.

His staff often has meetings that cover where they went wrong and how they can better impact the guests. Those efforts to have continuity and set a good culture across all the locations have created a sense of pride in Wise.

“Our core values (are), you’ve got to respect one another, accountability is No. 1, and at the end of the day, you just need to be nice,” he said.“Those three things that we really harp on translate into the service, the food, and the quality.”

Acknowledging that he can’t please everyone, Wise added that the management does its best to train staff well and make sure they’re comfortable, rather than being overworked and facing other problems.

Rare Society means a lot to Wise, as it’s evolved into a significant portion of his brand and his restaurant group, Trust.

“It’s just an enjoyable place to be around, because it is such a classic dining experience,” Wise said.

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