Category Archives: Exhibitions

Healing through creativity: New Braunfels gala to support local veteran artists

Danielle and Mario Lopez
Danielle and Mario Lopez are pictured with one of Mario’s paintings in their New Braunfels home on Feb. 2. Lopez, a wounded Army veteran, will host a gala with the New Century Art Guild on March 10 to support military veteran artists.

Story by THERESA DAVIS | Herald-Zeitung

New Braunfels resident Mario Lopez lost his right arm and most of his left hand in 2008 when a bomb hit his Army vehicle in Afghanistan but Lopez can still hold a paintbrush and a microphone — and he uses both to spread a message of healing and hope.

Lopez and the New Century Art Guild will host a U.S. Veteran Art Gala in New Braunfels on Friday, March 10 to support veteran artists.

The event will raise money for scholarships, supplies, education and mentoring for military veterans pursuing art careers.

“Art allows me to open new doors, express myself and share my experiences,” Lopez said.

Lopez, the Guild’s Southwest Region liaison, grew up in Alice, Texas. He joined the Army after 9/11.

Lopez served as a truck driver in Iraq for a year with a combat engineering unit building roads.

Then his unit was deployed to Afghanistan.

Four months into that stint, Lopez’s armored vehicle was hit by a 300-pound improvised explosive device, or IED.

“It exploded and then the vehicle lifted up, and it fell back down on the ground,” Lopez said. “All of a sudden it was gray everywhere, and I got knocked out.”

Lopez awoke to see flames engulfing the vehicle. His right arm was trapped.

“I started thinking this is a ‘dream,’” he said. “The flames got cold after a while, because the fire burned all my nerves.”

Crews eventually freed Lopez from the vehicle and transported him to a German hospital.

He suffered severe burns, lost his right arm and most of his left hand, and lost sight in his right eye.

Back in the U.S., Lopez started down a long road of surgeries in burn recovery units.

He dealt with depression and began to overuse pain medication.

One day, Lopez noticed an original painted canvas hanging on his friend’s wall.

“I used to do woodworking, so I said, ‘Well, how about painting?’” Lopez said. “I just love to create.”

A painting by Mario Lopez, a New Braunfels resident and southwest regional liaison for the New Century Art Guild. Proceeds from a March 10 gala will support military veteran artists.THERESA DAVIS | Herald-Zeitung

And he hasn’t stopped creating ever since.

Lopez has long been involved with the New Century Art Guild.

The group supports military veteran artists’ careers through art education and business skills.

The guild views art as a powerful tool for veterans experiencing PTSD.

Mario and his wife Danielle have met dozens of Texas veteran artists through their work, and decided to launch a local gala.

“We have everyone from established artists to people just breaking through,” Danielle said. “Art is therapeutic, and it’s exciting to see what these people can do.”

The New Braunfels multimedia art gala will be at the McKenna Events Center on 801 W. San Antonio St. Doors open at 6 p.m., with a night of dinner, guest speakers, music and dancing.

Tickets are $80 each. Corporate tables and sponsorships are also available.

Visit newcenturyartguild.org to purchase tickets online, or call 361-207-2599 for more information.

Tickets may also be purchased with a check sent by mail to Attn: Texas Veterans Art Show, New Century Art Guild, 4142 Main St., PO Box 92, Elk Horn, IA, 51543.

By Theresa Davis The Herald-ZeitungFeb 8, 2023 Updated Feb 8, 2023

2023 National Veterans Competition & Festival

All forms and works must be submitted
electronically (.jpg, .doc, .pdf or similar).

A panel of judges from the local creative
arts and veteran community will determine
the top three finalists.

Entry forms and all submissions are due:
August 4, 2023.

For rule packets and entry forms, contact
Cati DeMasi at catherine.demasi@va.gov
or scan the QR code below.
Creative Arts Competition Contact:
Cati DeMasi
402-995-6600
catherine.demasi@va.gov

NEBRASKA ARTS COUNCIL SUPPORTS VETERAN ART WORKSHOP SERIES

Through a generous Arts Learning Project grant through the Nebraska Arts Council, veterans in the VA’s Residential program were able to use the expressive and healing powers of art-making with their fellow military veterans and support team. New Century Art Guild’s signature “Vet-X-Press” (VXP) workshop series, veterans have an opportunity to unburden mental strain in the form of self-expressed artwork created in an environment that promotes healing and relaxation. Participants use different artistic media each session, including visual art, writing, music and acting. All experience levels are welcome and no previous experience is required. Workshop series are always free to veterans and their family members. The workshops further impact on the vitality of arts and culture in the veteran community by leading to exhibitions of veteran art and supporting art events, including the VA’s Annual Creative Arts Festival.

Call for Art Entries for Nebraska Women Veterans Symposium

May be an image of text that says 'CALLING ALL NEBRASKA WOMEN VETERAN ARTISTS! Call for Art The Nebraska Department ofeterans' Affairs, in conjunction with New Century Art Guild and Uniting announces call for Women Veteran Artists ofNebraska. Title: "Celebrating Their Service" Traveling Women Veteran Artist Exhibition :September 24-25, 2022 Where:Starting point- Nebraska Women Veterans Symposium Holiday Inn Kearney. Other locations TBA. No fee-all fee mediums welcome- submissions perveteran. Entries due by August3o, Submission form at: veterans.nebrashka.gov/womenvetevans IVFW VETERANS FOREIGN WARS. Nebraska NEBRASKA Good Great VETERANS* NEBRASKA Women Veterans SYMPOSIUM UnitingUS'

— The Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA), in conjunction with New Century Art Guild and Uniting Us, announces a call for women veteran artists of Nebraska to submit artwork to the “Celebrating Their Service” traveling women veteran artist exhibition. All mediums are welcome, with three submissions allowed per veteran. Submissions are due by August 30, 2022.

“The number of women veterans is growing rapidly, as is their use of the VA for healthcare,” said NDVA Women Veterans Coordinator Erin Colson. “Stories of their military service deserve greater attention, and many women veterans tell these stories through art which can be a very therapeutic process, helping veterans cope with many issues, both physical and mental.”

The art exhibition’s starting point will be at the Nebraska Women Veterans Symposium at the Holiday Inn in Kearney on September 24-25, after which it will travel the state (future locations to be announced). A submission form and additional details are available at veterans.nebraska.gov/womenveterans. For questions about the exhibition or submitting artwork, please contact Erin Colson at Erin.Colson@va.gov or Troy Muller at TMuller@newcenturyartguild.org.

Nebraska Women Veterans Symposium

Nearly half of the 200 spots available for the free, two-day symposium for Nebraska women veterans have been filled. Registration is available at veterans.nebraska.gov/womenveterans and is open until the date of the event or when all spots are filled.

Past National Commander of the American Legion Denise Rohan, who was the first woman to be elected to the top position of the American Legion, will be the keynote speaker. Leaders in the women veterans and military community will take part in a panel discussion titled “Celebrating Who I Was and Who I’ve Become,” about the struggles women veterans face both while serving in the Armed Forces and while transitioning out of the service. Other activities include a journaling exercise with Warrior Writers, an art activity with New Century Art Guild, interviews for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, and a screening of Lioness, a documentary about a group of female Army support soldiers who were part of the first program in American history to send women into direct ground combat.

Additional presenters include:

  • Nebraska/Western Iowa Women Veterans
  • Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
  • Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
  • Women Veterans Program Manager for Nebraska/Western Iowa VA Healthcare System
  • Homeless Veteran Coordinator
  • Veteran Readiness and Employment (VRE)
  • Vet Center
  • VFW Nebraska
  • American Legion Nebraska
  • HETRA
  • Hearts for Healing
  • New Century Art Guild
  • Uniting Us
  • Wounded Warrior Family Support
  • Wounded Warrior Project

The event is hosted by the Nebraska VFW and NDVA. Financial support for the conference has come from Nebraska VFW Foundation and PenFed Foundation.

Veterans Art Show Friday, November 12, Featuring the Work of Mario Lopez and other Veteran Artists

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.

 Mario 1

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.”

mario 2

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

 

VETERAN ARTIST ON DISPLAY AT NORSE HORSE, ELK HORN IA

Ricky Tavitas 7

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