New Century Art Guild, Inc, is a 501(c)(3) non- profit corporation registered in the State of Iowa and the State of Nebraska. Our primary mission is to provide training in art and business education to motivated military veteran artists in order that 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.
PROGRAM DIRECTORS:
NCAG Executive Director Troy J. Muller
NCAG Executive Director: Troy J. Muller
Troy Muller is an Omaha based artist and art instructor. In his painting and sculpture, he combines techniques of past masters and fuses them with contemporary issues. He graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute with a BFA in painting in 1996, and earned an MFA in Creative Writing/Poetry at the University of Nebraska. Troy began teaching art classes in 1997. He was an instructor of art classes at Iowa Western Community College for 11 years. He now teaches at Metro Community College in Omaha and as an individual instructor for VA Vocational Rehabilitation. He has an avid interest in military history and is a strong advocate for veteran benefits.
Mario Lopez is a wounded warrior and talented artist. His style is eclectic, colorful and often abstract. He has been featured in art shows around the country. He sustained burns to over 54% of his body and lost his right arm, vision in his right eye and four fingers on the left hand. Mario began his artistic endeavor as a healing therapy during his recovery. Mario’s passion is to bring hope to our wounded Veterans and community in general.
NCAG BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
NCAG Board Member TJ Ewin
NCAG Board Member: Thomas “T.J.” Ewin
In 2014, TJ enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and graduated from the School of Infantry as an 0311 Rifleman at Camp Pendleton. He served in the USMC Reserve Unit Echo 2/24. In 2016 TJ Received the Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
TJ previously worked in the Omaha Mayor’s Office as a Community Liaison. As a member of the Community Relations team, he worked in the community, listened to ideas and concerns and advised Omaha’s Mayor Stothert.
TJ currently serves as a police officer at the Omaha Police Department. In 2021, TJ became a detective with the Omaha Police Department’s Assault Unit.
NCAG Board Member Phyllis O’Keefe with husband Jim O’Keefe
NCAG Vice President: Phyllis O’Keefe
NCAG Board Member Guy Banta
NCAG Board Member: Guy Banta
Guy Banta retired as a Navy Commander after serving 28 years on active duty, He started as a Navy corpsman receiving 3 purple hearts, and bronze star for combat valor in Vietnam. After attending college, he was commissioned. Guy attended the Uniformed Services School of Medicine in Bethesda, MD (receiving his PH.D) . Guy’s career included commanding officer of the Naval Medical Research Command, two deployments to Persian Gulf and Navy finalist for Navy astronaut program. He is married to Linda and has two dogs – a sheltie (Ivy) and a golden retriever (Breeze).
Guy’s interest in art started as a college major; however, entry into the military service interrupted that pursuit. Following three careers with a Ph.D. and MPH, he finally made a return to art in 2013 and now enjoys life as a “professional artist.” Guy said, “My LIFE’S ART attempts to capture in oil or acrylic the diverse aspects of life as I have experienced it – life’s beauty, simplicity, love, complexity, happiness and sometimes reality. I consider myself more an impressionistic artist but sometimes mood dictates painting exactly what I see. My goal is to help others see life’s journey as I have through my art.”
NCAG Board Member Alison Ranniger
NCAG Secretary: Alison Ranniger
Alison Ranniger first became connected with the New Century Art Guild when she completed an internship in their Kimballton based gallery in the summer of 2014. Alison graduated from Central College with a BA in art in 2015. After moving to Omaha, Alison was an art instructor and curator for Valiant Studios, a program for artists with developmental disabilities. She became active in the art community, interning with the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts as well as exhibiting work at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha Design Center, and NCAG’s Rotert Memorial Art Gallery. She is currently enrolled in an MA program specializing in Contemporary and World Art at Leiden University in the Netherlands.
email:rannigera2@central.edu
NCAG President: Erin Colson
Erin Colson is a NCAG lifetime member as an veteran artist/photographer. Erin was in the Army and Army Reserves for 8 years (1996-2004). She met her husband while on active duty and has 2 sons. One is an active duty Army veteran and the other, is currently serving in the Army on active duty. She is a graduate of MCC with an Associates of Applied Science in Photography and has a Bachelors of Fine Arts – Studio Art from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Erin is very active in the veteran community and currently sits on several other veteran organization boards. She works for the State of Nebraska as a State Service Officer and is also the Outreach Coordinator for NDVA and the State of Nebraska Women Veterans Coordinator. NCAG Board Member: Erin Colson
Billy Marples (center) with art display at the Omaha VA hospital
Billy was a retired Marine and Vietnam Veteran. In Vietnam he served in the USMC, Supply Battalion 1st FSR, I Corps as a Truck Driver from 1969 to 1970. His art combined drawing, painting, sculpture and historic scale models. He drew upon inspiration from his own past war experiences and those of other veterans that he has personally interviewed for the Veterans History Project. Billy’s first significant work, The Breacourt Manor Assault by the 101st Airborne (during the Normandy Invasion of France in WWII), is permanently on display at the Utah Beach Museum. He has earned a BFA in studio art from Bellevue University and founded New Genesis Art Studio. From 2004 to 20011 Billy studied and practiced art, mostly under vocational rehabilitation for PTSD. Billy said, “Art has been the release valve for me to express what war and political involvement in a war can do to a soldier.” In November of 2004, Billy and Troy Muller began to discuss the formation of a nonprofit organization to support artists, local communities and veterans . With the addition of co-founder Scott Smith, the idea formally became New Century Art Guild. Billy was made a lifetime member November 10, 2011. Billy passed away in January of 2013.
2. Sal Giunta
Medal of Honor recipient Sal Giunta (center) with Troy Muller (left) and Scott Smith (right)
Salvatore Augustine “Sal” Giunta Giunta was born in Clinton, Iowa, on January 21, 1985. He is a former United States Army soldier and was the first living person since the Vietnam War to receive the U.S. military’s highest decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor. Giunta was cited for saving the lives of members of his squad on October 25, 2007 during the War in Afghanistan. Giunta chose not to re-enlist and left the Army in June 2011. Giunta and his wife moved to Colorado where he is a student at Colorado State University. Giunta has also written an autobiography titled Living with Honor. He was made a lifetime NCAG member in January 30th, 2012
3. Mario Lopez
Veteran/Artist Mario Lopez
Sgt. Mario Lopez was born in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1984. Growing up he expressed his artistic side on any medium he could find. Motivated by the 9/11 tragedy, Mario joined the U.S. Army in 2003. In 2005 he deployed to Iraq, and then again to Afghanistan in 2007. While on mission he was hit with an IED and was seriously injured. He endured burns on 54% of his body, a right arm amputation, loss of vision on his right eye, and loss of four fingers on his left hand. He was rushed to San Antonio Military Medical Center August 2008. Mario was awarded the Purple Heart for his bravery and sacrifice. During his recovery, Mario turned to painting once again. He discovered it to be therapeutic during his time of healing. Mario’s art work includes landscape, abstraction his own designs. Mario has a very positive attitude toward life despite great adversity and climbing many of “life’s mountains”. His paintings are reflective of his perseverant spirit and unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. He is proud to bring hope to others through sharing his faith, his paintings and his personality. Mario has a motto, “life is worth Living!” As a token of our thanks for his service to the country and his inspiration of others through art Mario was made a lifetime member on March 22, 2014.
4. Kyle Foster
PFC Kyle Foster being visited by Secretary of the Army in 2011 while recovering from his combat injuries. Photo Credit: Army.mil
Before studying art professionally at at Metro Community College, Kyle served 3 years in active duty with US Army from 2010 to 2013. He was part of D Company of the 2-35 Infantry Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. He deployed to Afghanistan as an 11B infantryman where he saw heavy combat activity in several areas including: Outpost Honacher Miracle, Kunar Province and Regional Command East. Kyle received the Purple Heart after being injured by a pressure-plate type IED explosion and was honorably and medically discharged from the Army after numerous surgeries were made to salvage use of his left foot and ankle. Upon returning to Nebraska, Kyle reinvented himself as a civilian; getting married and finding steady work as a shift supervisor with a prominent security company. Kyle and his wife, Brittney, are now awaiting the arrival of another child in addition to their daughter, Zoey. Kyle has a great eye for composition and a sensitive hand for drawing in charcoal, pastel and pencil. His artistic ability and veteran status named him as the recipient of New Century Art Guild’s 2015 Veteran Artist Grant. In addition to completing his college degree, Kyle’s ambitions include strengthening his artistic abilities and teaching art– perhaps teaching drawing to other wounded warriors. Kyle was made a lifetime member on November 10, 2015.
5. Dr. Scott P. Smith, M.D.
Dr. Scott P. Smith (left) with WW2 “Band of Brothers” veteran Ed Mauser
Dr. Scott Smith was born and raised in Wichita Falls, Texas. He is a United States Marine veteran, and served a tour of duty in Vietnam with VMA-311, A-4 Skyhawk attack squadron . After his military service, he attended Midwestern State University where he graduated with a B.S. and earned his medical degree at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Tx. His interest in art led him to become part-owner of Genesis Art Studio and now full owner. He personally accomplished much of the construction and renovation of the buildings which serve as a foundry studio and classroom. Scott was a founding member of NCAG and largely responsible for its official incorporation in 2013. Scott was made a lifetime member on December 1, 2015.
6. Neville Bridgeford
Neville working on mixed media painting.
While serving as an infantryman in the Army’s 25th Infantry Division in Afghanistan in 2004, Neville Bridgeford thought photography would be a good hobby to quell the boredom that often accompanies combat deployment. He bought a small digital camera at a PX while returning to his unit after leave. Not long afterwards, he fell in love with photography, and took his camera everywhere, taking pictures whenever and wherever he could. Since his return to civilian life, Neville continues to take photos and makes art in other media, most notably acrylic painting on canvas. Giving expression to his emotions, he feels, is not only vital to having a more tranquil inner-life, but it helps in his recovery from post-traumatic stress, from which he has suffered for many years.
Neville was born October 27th 1983 in southern California, and was raised in the community of Santa Clarita (north of Los Angeles.) In 2002, shortly after graduating high school, he entered the US Army and served as an infantryman with “A” Company 2-27th Infantry Regiment (“Wolfhounds”) of the 25th Infantry Division. He was stationed in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and served a year (2004-2005) in eastern Afghanistan. There he began his hobby of photography. Several years after getting out of the service, he began working at an art store, where he began painting at the age of 27. In February of 2016, Neville moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. He also spends time on his other interests: playing classical piano, creative writing, reading, prayer and meditation. Neville was selected by New Century Art Guild as the 2016 NCAG Veteran Artist Grant Recipient and was made a lifetime member August 19, 2016.
7. Roberta “Bert” Leaverton
Roberta “Bert” Leaverton
Roberta “Bert” Leaverton was born and raised in central Nebraska. She joined the Army National Guard prior to graduating high school and remained affiliated with the Army/Army Reserve for over 20 years. Her MOS varied throughout her career, starting first in finance eventually moving over to Food Service and Supply. Bert deployed to Iraq in 2003 with the 530th Military Police Battalion from Omaha in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. She decided to return to college and pursue her passion of photography. Bert said about her artwork, “My photos are a result of my own personal artistic effort to capture and recreate my year of ‘boots on the ground’ in Iraq. Setting up and photographing these images has also served as therapy for me, a combat veteran with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)– as they tend to unlock the “unconscious” state of mind that I am in when creating such images.”
Bert has served NCAG in numerous capacities over a number of years. She was made a lifetime member February 20, 2017.
8. Eric Howard
Top: Eric Howard with US Senator Joni Ernst and NCAG Art Director Troy Muller
Eric was made a lifetime member February 20, 2017.
9. Lars Gert Lose
Danish Ambassador Lars Get Lose receives NCAG Lifetime Membership
Lars Gert Lose is the current Ambassador of Denmark to the United States. Prior to arriving in Washington he held the position as Permanent Under-Secretary of State, where he served as Chief Adviser on Foreign Affairs to Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. Ambassador Lose have had a long career within the Danish Foreign Ministry. He started his career in 1997 by becoming Head of Section in the EU Coordination Office. Since then, he has held a range of high-level positions within the MFA: such as Private Secretary to Minister for Foreign Affairs Per Stig Møller (2004-2008) and Head of the Foreign Minister’s Office (2008-2011).
The New Century Art Guild hosted the Ambassador April 4th, 2018 at the NCAG Gallery in Kimballton, Iowa. Guild members provided the Ambassador, Mr. Lars Gert Lose, with a tour of Kimballton’s Hans Christian Anderson sculpture garden, and concluded the visit with a reception at the New Century art gallery. The Ambassador met with New Century’s President Jim O’Keefe, Art Director Troy Muller, and was gifted a photograph by Veteran Artist and long-time New Century Art Guild member Bert Leaverton. The Ambassador expressed his sincere respect for American veterans, and hopes to collaborate with the New Century Art Guild on international veteran art projects in the near future.
Lars Gert Lose was made a Lifetime Member April 2, 2018
10. James “Jim” O’Keefe
(Late) NCAG President Jim O’Keefe with his wife Phyllis
James “Jim” O’Keefe graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1972. He served as a gunnery officer on the USS Charles Berry and spent 2 years serving in Korea, Japan, and North Vietnam. He then became a helicopter pilot doing search and rescue missions and flight instruction. He ultimately became the Nuclear Safety and Security Officer for the United States Pacific Command, responsible for half of the US nuclear arsenal. Jim retired in 1994 and started several software companies. He served a number of years as NCAG President and made many contributions to the organization. He passed away one day after his 69th birthday, Feb. 5, 2019. Jim was made an honorary NCAG lifetime member Feb. 5th 2019.
11. Marie Boehme
US Navy. Marie was made an NCAG lifetime member Jun. 15th 2019.
12. Bill Dunn
USMC. Bill was made an NCAG lifetime member Jun. 15th 2019.
13. Erin Colson
US Army. Erin was made an NCAG lifetime member Jun. 15th 2019.
14. Sharon Robino-West
USMC. Sharon was made an NCAG lifetime member Jun. 15th 2019.
15. Jeff Wild
US Navy. Jeff was made an NCAG lifetime member Jun. 15th 2019.
16. Ronee Smith
US Army. Ronee was made an NCAG lifetime member Jun. 15th 2019.
17. Bryon Line
US Army . Bryon was made an NCAG lifetime member Jun. 15th 2019.
18. Steve Elliot
USMC. Steve was made an NCAG lifetime member Jun. 15th 2019.
19. Charlie Andersen
USMC. Marie was made an honorary NCAG lifetime member Jun. 15th 2019.
20. Mike and Lou Howard
Mike and Lou were made an NCAG lifetime members Jun. 15th 2019.
21. Hal and Mary Holoun
Hal and Mary were made an NCAG lifetime members Jun. 15th 2019.
22. Larry and Suzanne Hromek
Larry and Suzanne Hromek were made an NCAG lifetime members March 10th, 2023.
23. Pynko
Pynko was made an NCAG lifetime member March 10th, 2023.
24. Roger Betschler
Roger Betschler was made an NCAG lifetime member March 10th, 2023.
25. Guy Banta
Guy Banta was made an NCAG lifetime member March 10th, 2023.
26. Patrick Putze
Patrick Putze was made an NCAG lifetime member March 10th, 2023.
27. David and Angel Peche
David and Angel Peche were made an NCAG lifetime members March 10th, 2023.
28. Kathryn Hopkins
Kathryn Hopkins was made an NCAG lifetime member March 10th, 2023.
29. Roy Villarreal
Roy Villarreal was made an NCAG lifetime member March 10th, 2023.
30. Randy McGuire
Randy McGuire was made an NCAG lifetime member March 10th, 2023.
31. Christie Remmel
Christie Remmel was made an NCAG lifetime member March 10th, 2023.
32. Cody Vance
Cody Vance was made an NCAG lifetime member March 10th, 2023.
33. Kirsten Carlson Hayes
Kirsten Carlson Hayes was made an NCAG lifetime member March 10th, 2023.
34. Ricky Tavitas
“I attended Columbia College Chicago, a highly accredited fine arts school, where I studied graphic design. I developed advanced skills, learned the software and the technology to deliver dynamic visual communication. After attending Columbia for only two years, I enlisted in the United States Army. From then on, I completely abandoned everything I learned as I focused on my career in the Army. I enlisted as a wheeled vehicle mechanic and served a total of 13 years deploying to Iraq in 2009 and Afghanistan in 2011. Fast forward to June 2020, 15 years later: due to a motor vehicle accident, I suffered a spinal cord injury and I was left paralyzed from the neck down. I have no movement in my fingers or hands and limited movement in my arms. I was living at a department of Veterans Affairs nursing home and got to know the staff there pretty well. After having a conversation with a caregiver, she encouraged me to rediscover graphic design. Due to the pandemic, I had a lot of time on my hands and was getting bored. So I used that time to familiarize myself with the software and programs that I learned “way back when.” Thanks to an assistive technology program called Smile Mouse, which uses the camera on my laptop to recognize my face and head movements, I am able to manipulate the cursor to click, drag, scroll, etc. And this is when I recaptured my love for graphic design.”
Ricky Tavitas was made an NCAG lifetime member March 10th, 2023.
NEW CAREERS, NEW POSSIBILITIES, NEW DIRECTIONS FOR ARTISTS AND VETERANS
