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
— 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.
NCAG “DO GOOD DAYS” H.Q. AT SAFARI CIGAR BAR MAY 17th
Join us for our biggest fundraising day of the year at or Headquarters for Giving Tuesday May 17th
NCAG UNITES WITH VA REHAB SUPPORT FOR VET ROCKET LAUNCH DAY
Veterans from Omaha’s VA built and flew their own model rockets on Saturday April 2nd in a field near Bellevue, NE. The participating veterans had a great time watching their creations lift-off and then gently return via parachute! Definitely a new “favorite activity”!
NEBRASKA VIETNAM VETERAN MEMORIAL BREAKS GROUND
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.
NCAG ATTENDS LADY LIBERTY “GROUND SCHOOL”
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.
JULEFEST VETERAN ART EXHIBIT AND WORKSHOP FRIDAY NOV. 26th
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
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.
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