NCAG will cosponsor the “Huey Rescue Scene” life-size sculpture grouping at the Nebraska Vietnam Veteran Memorial located in Papillion, NE. The featured dignitaries at the March 29th groundbreaking included Nebraska Governor Pete Rickets and former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hegel.
In March, NCAG was invited to attend and assist Lady Liberty Gound School 2022. Pilots, ground crew, and administrators met to discuss policy and safety updates and review crew procedures.
Join us for a day full of holiday cheer! Five veteran artists display art work and NCAG will host a holiday ornament making workshop. Also, enjoy hot cocoa and seasonal treats!
Friday Nov 26th 10am to 2pm at 4142 Main Street, Elk Horn IA
Argentum Medical and the New Century Art Guild to Cohost Veterans Art Show on Friday, November 12, Featuring the Work of Wounded Warrior, Purple Heart Recipient and Artist U.S. Army Sgt. Mario Lopez.
Lopez, who sustained burns over 54% of his body, was treated with Argentum’s Silverlon antimicrobial dressings which are designed to help reduce postoperative infection rate for burn and blast injuries
Lopez serves as SW Region Art Director for New Century Art Guild, which provides training in art to military veteran artists, so they may successfully pursue new careers as artists, teachers or administrators
Argentum Medical, a medical device manufacture located in Geneva, Illinois and pioneer of Silverlon silver-plated nylon technology, together with the New Century Art Guild, will cohost a Veterans Art Show open to the community on Friday, Nov. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Geneva American Legion Post 75, 22 S 2nd St. The Veterans Art Show will feature the work of retired U.S. Army Sgt. Mario Lopez, a wounded warrior, Purple Heart recipient, an artist whose work is featured nationwide in galleries, museums, military bases, government buildings and even in the offices of U.S. Presidents. Other local veteran artists Michael Bever, Larry Orsborn, Ricky Tavitas and Salvatore Dazzo will also be featured.
Sgt. Mario Lopez will be on hand at the Veterans Art Show to talk about his artwork and his experiences. Motivated by the September 11 attacks, Lopez joined the Army in 2003 and was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. During a mission in 2008 in Afghanistan, he was seriously injured when the vehicle he was riding in hit an improvised explosive device (IED) and it detonated. Sgt. Lopez’ battle buddies acted quickly, pulling him from the burning vehicle.
He sustained burns over 54% of his body and lost his right arm, vision in his right eye and four fingers on his left hand. Sgt. Lopez underwent multiple skin grafts and surgeries to reconstruct his face, left hand, and right foot. Throughout his recovery, Lopez was treated with Silverlon silver-plated nylon wound dressing as an instrumental part of his recovery.
Silverlon dressings are critical in helping to prevent infection on wound or burn victims. Silverlon dressings have 50 to 100 times more metallic silver ions than other silver-impregnated dressings, which make them a strong antimicrobial. During his recovery, Sgt. Lopez who was awarded the Purple Heart, turned to painting as part of his healing. After losing his dominant right arm, Mario thought he would never paint again. However, in July 2011, he picked up a paintbrush with his left hand, started making strokes across the canvas, and has not stopped since.
“Sgt. Lopez paintings are a testament to his resilience and the resilience of our military heroes on Veterans Day.” said Raul Brizuela, president and CEO of Argentum Medical. “His artwork is a source of inspiration today and for years to come. We are proud to honor Veterans Day this way.”
Despite great adversity, Mario has a positive attitude toward life, a strong faith in God, and a desire to bring hope to those viewing his works. In fact, in August 2021, Sgt. Mario Lopez previously visited the Geneva headquarters of Argentum Medical to unveil and dedicate a painting to Argentum Medical, the creators of Silverlon, which helped save him. The painting (see photos) is a stylized image of the American flag on canvas and will hang at Argentum for all time. During that visit and dedication ceremony, Sgt. Lopez met with Illinois Congresswoman and Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Lauren Underwood. Lopez and leaders at Argentum Medical connected with Rep. Underwood to talk about the impact Argentum Medical’s Silverlon, a critical medical device used throughout the U.S. Military and included in the Strategic National Stockpile, had on Sgt. Lopez personally and contributed to the care he received during his treatment for his injuries and during recovery. They also discussed the need for use during national emergencies in potential catastrophic disasters or attacks.
Originally developed for military combat burn and blast injuries, SILVERLON antimicrobial technology is now used throughout the U.S. Military – and in civilian operating rooms and hospitals around the world. Multiple, peer-reviewed, published clinical studies have shown the significant benefits of SILVERLON in a wide variety of surgical, wound and burn-care settings. SILVERLON is recognized by the Federal Drug Administration for use on first- and second-degree burns, partial and full thickness wounds and most recently, sulfur-mustard burns. In addition, SILVERLON® dressings are used today by surgeons and other healthcare professionals around the world on surgical wounds, in negative pressure wound therapy, on chronic wounds, burns, skin grafts, and IV and catheter-related wounds.
ABOUT SILVERLON:
SILVERLON® wound dressings have a permanently plated metallic surface, which provides the antimicrobial benefits of silver in the dressing without staining the skin and without increasing bioburden. SILVERLON® was originally developed for the U.S. military, where it is still extensively used for management of burn and blast injuries. SILVERLON® dressings are used today by surgeons and other healthcare professionals around the world on surgical wounds, in negative pressure wound therapy, on chronic wounds, burns, skin grafts, and IV and catheter-related wounds. For more, visit Silverlon.com
ABOUT ARGENTUM MEDICAL:
Argentum Medical pioneered the use of silver-plated nylon. Specializing in the development of innovative products made from silver-plated nylon, the companies continue to explore new applications and markets for SILVERLON® technology in keeping with their corporate mission to improve clinical outcomes.
ABOUT THE NEW CENTURY ART GUILD:
New Century Art Guild, Inc, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation with the primary mission to provide training in art and business education to motivated military veteran artists so they may successfully pursue new careers in the fine arts as artists, teachers, or administrators. A powerful side benefit from these activities is a substantial reduction of the depression associated with PTSD and the re-integration of these veterans into a fulfilling and useful role in civilian society. For more, visit http://newcenturyartguild.org
NCAG is pleased to present veteran artist Ricky Tavitas’ work, which can be seen at Norse Horse in Elk Horn IA until Friday, Oct. 22nd, 2021.
Artist Bio: Since childhood, Ricky Tavitas was always attracted to rich vibrant colors and designs- be it from comic books, drawings, graffiti, or pieces of apparel visible while out in the city. His interest in art began while studying graphic arts in high school where he experimented with his newfound artistic skills on various media such as, paper, glass, and digital art. After high school, Tavitas attended the highly accredited Chicago’s Columbia College School of Fine Arts where he developed advanced skills in digital design and learned how to use the latest software and technology to deliver dynamic visual communications.
Two years into his studies at Columbia, he enlisted in the United States Army. Focusing on his new career path in the military, Ricky set aside his studies in digital art, and began a new specialty as a wheeled vehicle mechanic. He served a total of 13 years and deployed to Iraq in 2009 and later Afghanistan in 2011.
Tragically in June of 2020, Ricky was involved in a civilian, non-military motor vehicle accident suffering a spinal cord injury which left him paralyzed from the neck down. Thanks to the encouragement from a trusted caregiver during his recovery at a Veteran Affairs long term care facility, Tavitas made the decision to pursue his talent in graphic design once again. Despite having no movement in his fingers or hands and limited movement in his arms, he was able to refamiliarize himself with graphic arts software and programs he learned while in college prior to his military service. With the assistive technology program called, “Smile Mouse” (a software that uses one’s laptop camera to recognize facial and head movements to relay computer commands) Ricky is once again able to command the cursor to click, drag, and scroll so that he can manifest his tremendous graphic design talent and creative vision.
By taking multiple images and manipulating them into one new and unique image, Tavitas conveys to the audience his thoughts and ideas through an elaborate, compelling visual story.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oLfkYIFukqz_n-4vuyzIwsVvEtp8RKuI/view?usp=sharing
My Sister’s Smile– International Women’s Day Photo Exhibition (Originally exhibited at Iowa Western Community College’s Arts Center; March, 2017)
New Century Art Guild wishes to reprise select images from “My Sister’s Smile” exhibition in an effort to acknowledge the plight of the people of Afghanistan, where recent news has been most concerning regarding the safety of the citizens, including friends we have made as a result of this project.
In 2016, the cities of Herat, Afghanistan and Council Bluffs, IA launched a unique joint and simultaneous exhibit of women photographers from the two cities in honor of International Women’s Day. In the summer of 2016, Herat, Afghanistan and Council Bluffs, Iowa signed a Sister Cities International partnership agreement. This exhibit was an opportunity for Herat and Council Bluffs to share and discover the uniqueness of each city as well as the things we have in common.
This event was the result of a partnership between Council Bluffs Sister Cities Association, Herat Sister Cities Committee, New Century Art Guild, and Karadah Project International. These organizations bring together Afghan and American artists, civic and government leaders, military veterans, and humanitarian advocates. “These kinds of citizen diplomacy efforts are as important as the work of our professional diplomats,” said Rick Burns, Council Bluffs Sister Cities board member and founder of Karadah Project International. “If we are to have peace, it will only come through the grassroots efforts of citizen diplomats reaching across national boundaries.”
Images from Afghan women photographers:
