Veterans Get Creative
"The Unnamed Collection" by Artist: Kristian Robinson
The VA Creative Arts Festival and competition is held for Veterans every year at local VA Medical Centers around the country.
The competition consists of two stages. The first stage consists of activities at the local VA Medical Centers. The second stage is when the Award-Winning Entries from the local events are entered in the National VA Creative Arts Festival’s competition. The 2016 competition saw 126 of the nation’s VA Medical Centers enter local winners in the National Creative Arts Festival competition.
The competitive categories are art, creative writing, drama, music and dance. Under each category there are 30 to 50 subcategories. Last year a local entry in the drama competition won first place at the National Creative Arts Festival.
There were many entries this year demonstrating the talents of our local Veterans. An award winning cathartic essay by a Veteran struggling with PTSD, a pencil sketch of a praying cowboy, songs, poetry, wood, leather-work, a ceramic battlefield, and many more entries displayed the varied talents flourishing in our community of Veterans.
Engaging in creative arts allow Veterans to focus their energy on positive and constructive activities. The arts can help them make the past traumas and present challenges a bit more manageable.
If you missed this year’s Creative Arts Festival, now is a good time to start preparing for next year’s event in March of 2018.
For more information about the National and Local VA Creative Arts Festival, please contact Mike Andrews at 304-623-3461 ext. 3475.
"2,000 Feet" by Artist: Terry Feight
Below is a list of the Award-Winning Entries of this year’s festivals:
Kirk Breitenstein - Snakane
George P. Davis III - SPUD 19 – An Army Aviator’s Battle with PTSD
Edward DeMundo - Ed’s House
Terry Feight - 2000 Feet
Thomas R. Fletcher - September Morning
Norman Haynes - The Barn
Jack Jones - Drafted
Daniel Kinney - Praying Cowboy
Roberta Laxton - Coping Skills
Lesa Meinze - Old Glory II
Lesa Meinze - Glacier Star
John Montoya - Fort Seybert, Brandy Wine WV
Warren Park - Standing Watch
Warren Park - Daisy
Larry Press - Easter Lily
David Alan Tucker - A Few Good Men-Monologue
David Alan Tucker - America, Why I Love Her
David Alan Tucker - I am Old Glory
Etta Wright - Tiger
